Pep Guardiola’s side won seven from seven across all competitions, scoring 25 and conceding just once, leaving the Blues top of the Premier League table and Champions League Group F, and into the last-16 of the Carabao Cup.
Here, our writers look back over September and pick their favourite goal.
Caroline Oatway: Kevin De Bruyne v Chelsea
Decisions, decisions… how do you select a favourite of so many moments of magic?
How we managed to whittle down September’s selection of stunners to four for our Nissan Goal of the Month competition, I will never know. Appointing one as the very best of the bunch was nigh on impossible.
However, after much deliberation, I’ve chosen De Bruyne’s wonderful winner at Chelsea – based on its significance in addition to its quality.
The build-up was superb, the finish even better and the importance of it: admittedly unknown at this stage but potentially crucial in the title race. Plus, the fact it arrived against his former employers provided a sweet subplot.
From Nicolas Otamendi’s midfield-obliterating through-ball to the exquisite one-two between De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus to the Belgian’s unstoppable strike… It was a goal beautifully crafted from start to finish, deserving of its match-winning status and the celebrations that ensued demonstrated just how crucial it could prove to be.
Rob Pollard: Leroy Sane v Crystal Palace
There were more important goals scored in September - including Sane’s brilliant winner in a tight Carabao Cup game at West Brom - but the German’s goal against Crystal Palace was a work of art.
Sane laid the ball into the path of David Silva, who took one touch to steady himself before wonderfully chipping a return ball into the path of the 21-year-old. He then produced two touches of outstanding quality – the first to flick it over Scott Dann’s head; the second to roll the ball past Wayne Hennessey and set City on their way to a resounding 5-0 win.
Sheer class from a player whose talent appears limitless.
John Edwards: Rabbi Matondo U18s v Blackburn Rovers
There looked to be little threat to the Rovers’ defence when the young winger picked the ball up on the right flank at the City Football Academy.
However, there was space in front of him and with a lethal combination of pace and trickery in his armoury, Matondo was soon deep into the opposition half, having left two defenders in his wake.
The finish was equally impressive, as he fired a fierce drive beyond the ‘keeper from a fairly tight angle.
It was everything wing play should be from player who was in a rich vein of goal scoring form in September – Matondo went on to net at Feyenoord and a hat-trick against Sunderland followed.
David Clayton: Fabian Delph, v Crystal Palace
With 25 goals to go at in September, this wasn’t hard.
There have been so many good goals just lately – real belters – that I could have chosen three of Sane’s, two of De Bruyne’s, or one of Sergio Aguero’s treble at Watford and nobody would have complained.
Goals have been flying in from all angles, but the one I’ll go for is Fabian Delph’s against Palace.
Every goal creates a lot of joy in the stands or on the pitch, but the celebrations surrounding Delph’s beauty against the Eagle was evident on his team-mates’ faces and on Delph’s too.
He’s had so many set-backs with injury that he deserved his goal and the praise from his manager for the two performances that came after it – let’s hope he can continue after the international break.
