Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists his team are not resting on their laurels heading into the new season.

The Cityzens have won six of the last seven league titles but Guardiola says that his first priority is to finish in the top four, with there being as many as six other clubs who are in with a shout of competing at the top of the table:

“Always at the beginning of the season, the first target is to finish in the top four. People say: ‘Oh, come on’, I say ‘no’. Newcastle are not in Europe, and are going to play one game a week. Newcastle with one game a week this season will be the Newcastle of two seasons ago.”

“Arsenal are not necessary to talk about. Liverpool are not necessary to talk about. I know the signings of United, they are going to take the momentum and they will be there.”

“Tottenham, I’m pretty sure they invest and with the young players and the manager knows better. There are a lot of teams – Chelsea again, the amount of players and their quality and the manager. Six or seven teams will be there and if you drop a little bit, you will be away.”

“This is the reality that I have felt since the first season I arrived here and after we proved to ourselves that we can do it and to try to do it again. It’s simple.”

The bookmakers see things differently to Guardiola

City are very much favourites to retain their title at the bookies, with most pricing them between 6/5 and 3/2 to finish top once again.

Most feel it will be a two-horse race, with Arsenal’s odds only slightly longer. Liverpool, meanwhile, are rated a distant 3rd, although they did get their season off to bright start with a win over Ipswich on the opening day.

The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle are not expected to be in the mix for the title, even if they are set to challenge for the top four.

City could do with strengthening their squad

One concern that supporters do have is what happens if Guardiola has to deal with several injuries. The squad is not exactly that deep, especially up front, following the sale of Julian Alvarez and the injury sustained by Oscar Bobb.

Many fans feel that the Cityzens should consider bringing in a player or two before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here