The Era of Manchester City’s Dominance in the Premier League Is Over
Manchester City’s rise to dominance over the Premier League began when the Abu Dhabi United Group fully took over the club's ownership in 2008. They have been able to use their financial strength to attract star players and coaches over the years since then. During this current era, the club has so far been able to win a total of 23 major trophies across all competitions. The most notable achievement Manchester City achieved in this period was in the 2022-2023 season, where they won the Premier League, the FA Cup, the UCL, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. The club solidified its role as the apex predator of the Premier League in 2016 when it hired head coach Pep Guardiola, a former Bayern Munich and F.C. Barcelona head coach. The Spaniard brought over his tactical system from his days at the Blaugrana and Bayern Munich. While Pep Guardiola initially kept the success for the club flowing in, over the years their grip on the league has been loosening up until now, where they are no longer on top.
What Happened to Manchester City?
While it has seemed like rainbows and sunshine in the world of Manchester City, the trouble was brewing for years in the background on multiple fronts. The most immediate issues that are more surface-level are key players planning to leave or being injured. With Ballon d'Or winner Rodri injured with an ACL injury that has ended his season, and other injuries at different points of the season that have hampered the club's performance during key games. Manchester City’s long-time midfield star Kevin De Bruyne announced he is leaving the club at the end of the season. All of these squad-based issues have contributed to other teams, such as Liverpool F.C., to start taking back charge of the league.
A more concerning issue is on the financial side of things. Manchester City is one of the many clubs that are facing allegations of UEFA Financial Fair Play regulation violations. To be exact, they are facing 115 alleged breaches of the regulations. The independent hearings commenced on September 16, 2024, and concluded on December 6, 2024. A final verdict is expected sometime in the spring of 2025. If the club is found guilty of these charges, it can face many different punishments. Some of these may include point deductions, embargos on transfers for years, they can be stripped of titles, and even be relegated or expelled from the Premier League. This makes the club a less inviting place for new star players to come in and for current players to want to stay. It seems to be a sinking ship. It is speculated that these problems are part of the reason why De Bruyne decided to look for newer pastures. Time will tell if Manchester City will face punishment and if they can have a better season next year.
