Pep Guardiola’s immaculate tactics took the Premier League by storm last season.
Many believed his strategy, fruitful in both Spain and Germany, would never succeed in the tough environment of the Premier League.
In the Spaniard’s first season, Manchester City narrowly secured Champions League football and the doubts intensified.
But Guardiola roared out of the traps in his second term. The Sky Blues completed the most remarkable of title wins, and anticipation ahead of the new season is almost uncontrollable.
A star-studded manager list, including Champions League winner Jose Mourinho, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, and then-Premier League holder Antonio Conte never came close to Guardiola.
His strategy was never sussed in the Premier League, hence allowing Manchester City to cruise to their third championship in six years.
The unpredictability of the division makes it the best in the world. That is why fans should not expect a repeat.
Mourinho and Manchester United will have grown over the summer, Liverpool are ostensibly strengthening, however perhaps Pep Guardiola’s biggest rival is a man who has never managed in the Premier League.
Maurizio Sarri, agonisingly close to clinching Napoli’s first Serie A since 1990, has made the switch to England and looks to bring the title back to west London in his first campaign.
His flowing, vibrant method gave the Italian top flight a new dimension, and you feel Chelsea are going to adopt similar tactics.
We saw Guardiola bring a new style of football to the Premier League, and perhaps Sarri is hoping to do the same thing, reaping the same rewards.
There is no doubting when the two meet for the first time, it will prove an intriguing battle.
City and Chelsea contest the Community Shield at the beginning of August, although more eyes will be on their meeting in early December. By that point the league would have taken shape, and who knows how crucial that match could prove.
Manchester City winger Leroy Sane admitted Chelsea will be the Sky Blues’ closest rivals for the title this season. Sarri has his eyes on the prize, and there is no doubting Guardiola and City will come under real pressure when posed with this fresh, unique challenge.
Hopefully the champions can pull through. Guardiola is certainly capable of doing so, after City overcame Napoli in the Champions League.