There’s also fascinating insight from one of Pep’s stand-out players at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich about how he believes the City boss has become even more ‘magical’ over time.
And as well as the latest transfer gossip, there’s also talk of how City can potentially kick on and improve yet again this season.
Opinion
Daily Mail: Supercomputer tips City to land third straight title
Max Winters: “Manchester City will win the Premier League title ahead of Liverpool again, Tottenham will come up against Manchester United in the Europa League final and Newcastle will be relegated.
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“Those are some of the bold predictions made in a report commissioned by BT Sport after they brought together some of football’s biggest data platforms in an attempt to script the upcoming season using artificial intelligence and piles of statistics.
“The broadcaster commissioned leading data scientists and real-time sports analysis experts Squawka to analyse vast amounts of football data from Opta and project how things will look come May 17, 2020 - the final day of the new season.
“What has been produced is a comprehensive ‘script’: featuring all 380 matches of the coming Premier League season, their outcomes and the how the Champions League and Europa League campaigns will play out too.
“Pep Guardiola, apparently, will spend a third season lifting the Premier League title, pipping Liverpool to the crown by six points.
“The report also shows Tottenham are primed to finish third with Chelsea in fourth as the top four remain in place.
“Arsenal and Manchester United will miss out on the Champions League places on the last day, falling short behind Chelsea.”
SkySports: Will City be even better in 2019/20?
Nick Wright: “Manchester City have hit extraordinary heights in the last two years, becoming the first Premier League side to claim back-to-back titles in a decade. So will Pep Guardiola take them up another level this season?
“The Catalan is forever demanding more from his players and it is with the same attitude that he is approaching the new season.
“In the last two years, City have sent Premier League records tumbling for points, goals and just about everything else. But Guardiola is set on further improvement. “Next season we will be stronger,” he added in May. “I am sure.”
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“It is ominous for the rest, and what’s more worrying is that there is little reason to doubt him. Guardiola‘s record for improving winning teams is exemplary. His Barcelona side won three consecutive league titles and it was the same story at Bayern Munich. To achieve the same feat in the Premier League would be even more impressive.
“Guardiola has kept supporters guessing with his tactics throughout pre-season - Raheem Sterling’s switch to central striker for the thrashing of Kitchee was just another example.
“While Rodri and full-back Angelino are the only signings so far, there are sure to be more surprises when the season gets under way.
“For Guardiola, the record-breaking feats of the last two years are already forgotten. History suggests there is further improvement to come.”
From the players
Goal.com: Pep has become even more magical – Thiago Alcantara
Joseph D’Hippolito: “Thiago Alcantara feels Pep Guardiola has only become better and more magical over time, and believes the current Manchester City manager has been able to show more of what he can achieve as he got to work with better players.
“The Bayern Munich star first worked with Guardiola at Barcelona and was then re-united with him following his move to the Allianz Arena in 2013.
Guardiola is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and Thiago has stressed the City boss continually evolves and gets better at what he does.
“I always make the comparison that the coach works like the players. When you put a player in a great team, he gets better and he makes all team-mates better as well,” Thiago told Goal.
“With the years, he got better as a coach, not just because of experience but he also got better players and he could do better things with them on the pitch.
“He got more magical, more experienced, more tactical, more everything.”
Transfer gossip
The Scottish Sun: City bid rejected for Celtic target
Ryan McDonald: “Manchester City have had a bid booted out for Jose Cifuentes who is also a target for Celtic.
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“The Premier League giants slapped in an offer for the 20-year-old midfielder and a deal was expected to be thrashed out quickly.
“But reports in Ecuador claim Universidad Católica del Ecuador have rejected the proposal.
“Highly-rated Cifuentes, 20, is currently on loan at America de Quito and starred during the Under 20s World Cup, bagging Goal of the Tournament.
“Last week Neil Lennon confirmed the youngster was on his radar but the Hoops have yet to step up their interest.”
