Man City news: Opinion – Fan scorecard on 2024-25

Season rating: 4/10. For a third-place finish, that may seem a little low but dig a little deeper and it is a very fair assessment. Little progress in the League Cup, no challenge for the Premier League title, a failure to reach the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time since 2012, and an FA Cup final defeat. Unfortunately, the standards at Manchester City are now much higher.

Happy with your manager?: I often think, who am I to judge Pep Guardiola? This season, there is very little he could have done to have changed the club’s fortunes. Having his hands tied at times because of an injury-ravaged squad, perhaps you might suggest he could have leaned upon more youthful options more often. They later proved to be very capable, such as Nico O’Reilly and James McAtee. Many clubs would have sacked based on the results of November and December, but if anybody can change the fortunes around next season, it is Guardiola. He has earned this trust.

Unsung hero: When it comes to an unsung hero, I believe there is no looking past Mateo Kovacic. The Croat was handed the impossible task of replacing Rodri from late September, and while most players in Europe would struggle with that tagline, the 31-year-old was a hugely commendable star in the middle of the park, providing an eye for a forward run, a goal, and calmness in transition. Can you imagine where we would be without him?!

Player you would most like to sign: Looking towards the summer transfer window, and the must-sign is Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan. Manchester City are in desperate need of additional legs and energy in midfield, and the versatility the Dutchman would bring reduces the weight of expectation on Rodri maintaining an ability to play every three days. The 26-year-old brings speed in transition from defensive midfield into attack as well as an eye for goal, coming into a team that has significantly struggled to share the bulk of scoring aside from Erling Haaland.

Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: With the season now done and dusted, the overriding feeling is one of excitement at the prospect of fresh faces, fresh names coming into this Manchester City squad and getting back to where we really should be; competing. With Champions League football secured, the club has not gone backwards in any sense, and it is more a case of strengthening and picking up where we left off at the end of the 2023-24 campaign!

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