A A year to remember
City fans all over the world - young and old - will never forget 2018.
With the Blues having collected two trophies - the first of Pep Guardiola‘s reign - in such sensational fashion, smashing records left, right and centre, our 2017/18 campaign will live long in the memory and will go down in English football folklore.
City stormed to Premier League and Carabao Cup success with a record number of points, goals, clean sheets... you name the record, we broke it.
What an incredible season.
B Beautiful football
From defence to attack, City have been simply sublime across the board with some of our attacking football in particular a joy to behold.
With goals pouring in from all angles with a variety of different styles and scorers, entertainment is aplenty and we’ve loved every minute.
One-touch football, 30-yard-screamers, pinpoint crosses, perfectly-timed challenges, stunning saves... we’ve had it all.
C Centurions
One of the most incredible feats in English football history, City secured the Premier League title with a record number of points - a perfect 100.
It was the first time a Club had ever reached the century mark and naturally, the accomplishment was achieved in typically dramatic fashion (more on that later).
The record was duly celebrated across the globe as the Club marked the astonishing coup by (quite literally) lighting up the world with a series of light projections across each of the players’ home cities (25 in total).
A fitting tribute!
D Debutants
From Aymeric Laporte to Aro Muric, Riyad Mahrez to Lukas Nmecha, Eric Garcia to Caroline Weir, Adrian Bernabe to Lauren Hemp, Gemma Bonner to Claudio Gomes… there have been a host of City debutants this year.
The future is Blue!
E EDS and Academy
Further evidence of the above…
2018 proved another memorable year for City’s youth teams.
The young Blues progressed through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Youth League where we agonisingly were eliminated 5-4 by eventual champions Barcelona back in April after a pulsating tie.
On the domestic front, Paul Harsley came in over the summer from Barnsley to take charge of the EDS squad and in his first six months he has guided the squad through to the knockout stages of the Checkatrade Trophy.
A dramatic round of 32 win at Barnsley on penalties has set-up a January last 16 tie away at Rochdale.
F Foden
It’s been another memorable year for youngster Phil Foden.
Having broken into the starting XI of his beloved boyhood team, the Stockport-born City fan has continued to flourish with more gametime and the moment he always dreamed of: his first goal for the Club.
Tipped for great things, the midfielder has slotted into the side seamlessly and was rewarded for his efforts with a new long-term deal.
He’s one of our own!
G Goals, goals, goals!
That’s entertainment! Once again, we’ve been treated to goals galore with an unprecedented number of successful strikes, as City romped to Premier League glory by netting an astonishing 106, beating Chelsea’s previous record of 103.
The Blues also tallied the best goal difference with +79 - eight more than the previous best, also set by Chelsea.
It wasn’t just our men’s side either who showcased their ruthless side - Nick Cushing’s Blues broke an FA Women’s Super League record with the most goals scored (51), while our EDS and Academy sides registered some intoxicating victories, including an 11-goal thriller!
H Historic
You name a Premier League record, we broke it!
City’s remarkable, swash-buckling 2017/18 campaign scribbled out and rewrote the history books almost on a weekly basis, as we set new records for everything from the most consecutive Premier League games won to the biggest share of away possession... the most opponents beaten to the fewest minutes trailed... the most away points and the biggest winning margin!
What a season...
I Injury time
The secret of City’s recent success has been credited to the Blues ‘never-say-die attitude’... and it was fitting that in a season when it had been displayed on so many occasions, we would make history once more with the final kick.
City travelled to Southampton on the final day in the knowledge a victory would complete an outstanding campaign with a record number of Premier League points - a perfect Century - and in typical fashion, it had to be claimed with a last-gasp winner!
Gabriel Jesus was the man to bag it but it also proved pivotal for Kevin De Bruyne, as the Belgian’s beautiful lofted assist ensured he leapfrogged Leroy Sane in the league’s assist charts, claiming the inaugural Playmaker of the Season crown!
A moment we’ll never forget!
K King Kev
Another remarkable campaign earned the Belgian a second Player of the Year award in three seasons to accompany his Playmaker of the Year award.
Having made an outstanding 52 appearances in all competitions, the midfielder bagged 12 goals, including a Goal of the Season contender against Swansea, and a staggering 21 assists. He beat PFA Young Player of the Year Leroy Sane and midfield maestro David Silva to the accolade - no mean feat!
De Bruyne was also deservedly included in the 2017/18 PFA Team of the Year. Well done, Kev!
L League Cup
The first trophy of Guardiola’s reign… and what a memorable day it was.
City produced a dazzling display at Wembley to sweep the Gunners aside and secure a third League Cup triumph in five years, as Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva found the net to clinch the first available silverware of the season.
It was fitting that three members of the ‘old guard’ would write their names onto the scoresheet, and especially pleasing that beloved skipper Kompany would engineer a Man of the Match display before delightedly lifting another trophy adorned with blue and white.
Aside from an early scare, in which Claudio Bravo produced a fine double-stop, the Blues were rarely threatened and outshone Arsenal all over the pitch, displaying the ruthlessness of Champions to cruise to victory.
M Marching on
As was the case last year, Guardiola‘s side remain in contention for all four competitions at the turn of the year - the Premier League title, the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup and the Champions League.
Our women’s team suffered an early Champions League exit but have clawed ourselves back into title contention, sitting level on points with league leaders Arsenal. After the winter break, we host Brighton in the Continental Cup quarter-finals and are yet to kick-off our FA Cup campaign.
Part two to follow...
