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Manchester City’s 2019-20 Season: A final review

By J.C. Gonzalez

The Etihad Stadium complex, home to English Premier League football team Manchester City, is pictured in Manchester, northen England on April 21, 2020, as life in Britain continues during the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. - Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Premier League football matches have been suspended indefinitely with no return expected before mid-June,at the earliest. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Etihad Stadium complex, home to English Premier League football team Manchester City, is pictured in Manchester, northen England on April 21, 2020, as life in Britain continues during the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. - Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Premier League football matches have been suspended indefinitely with no return expected before mid-June,at the earliest. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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With Manchester City’s 2019-20 season officially in the books, it is time to take a look back at one of the biggest roller coaster 12 months in the club’s history.

The 2019-20 season will be one remembered around the world of football as one of the most bizarre, dramatic, and unprecedented seasons in history. This could not be more true for Manchester City, who were firmly in the spotlight for the entirety of the year, and not always for the right reasons.

The season began in August of 2019, which feels like a decade ago now, when City defeated Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield. Spirits were high, and the Premier League looked set for another epic clash of titans as Liverpool and City battled history and each other as the clear two best teams in both England and the world. In that match, a half-committed Leroy Sané tore his ACL, effectively ending his City career.

Nevertheless, City had played without Sané for much of last season, so hope remained. That all changed when City played Brighton on Aug. 31. Star defender Aymeric Laporte was seriously injured, and without signing a replacement for Vincent Kompany, City were in deep trouble. Immediately the impact was felt, as disastrous defending from John Stones and Nicolás Otamendi cost City a crucial defeat at the hands of bottom feeders Norwich.

From there, although an 8-0 win over Watford papered over the cracks, City were in free fall as Liverpool set a blistering, history-chasing pace. Pep Guardiola tried everything, including Rodri and Fernandinho, two midfielders, partnering each other in central defense against Crystal Palace, but by the time City controversially lost 3-1 to Liverpool, the hope of a third straight title was gone in November.

Things quieted down for a bit as the Citizens progressed in both the Carabao Cup and Champions League group stages, but drama sparked back to life when City were drawn to face Real Madrid in the round of 16 in the Champions League and UEFA attempted to ban City for two years from the competition on allegations of Financial Fair Play breaches. During a pending appeal, City grabbed a trophy, this time their third straight Carabao Cup, before a global pandemic shut the world down.

In a harrowing and unprecedented time, City had no idea what their fate would be. However, they won the appeal at the Court of Arbitration of Sport and football was resumed, and City’s season could still be salvaged.  City could not defend their FA Cup title, however, after a shocking semi-final defeat to a resurgent Arsenal under former City assistant Mikel Arteta.

Following a historic 2-1 comeback victory at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu before lockdown, City finished what they started six months earlier by winning 2-1 again against Los Blancos. With Juventus losing to Olympique Lyon in the round of 16, hopes were high that City could turn an inconsistent season into one for the history books.

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With an appalling performance in Lisbon against Lyon in the quarterfinals, that dream has died as well. In total, City followed up 198 points across two seasons that culminated in two titles, as well as the first English domestic treble in history last season, with just one trophy: the Carabao Cup. Therefore, this season must be viewed as an unequivocal failure. A third straight quarterfinal elimination in the Champions League is simply not good enough, and changes must be made if City are to contend again.

This team has superstar talent but also major issues, and 2019-20 will remain in the heads of City supporters as a reminder of how a faulty transfer window can affect even the best of teams. A proper Kompany replacement a year ago could have changed everything, but now the future lies in serious doubt. This year will go down as a landmark in general football and for the club, but for Manchester City, it will not be in a positive way.