Can they win the big three? My takes on City's end to the season

As we find ourselves in the month of January, it usually becomes the time when the outcome of this season's competitions starts really shaping up, and for Manchester City, the idea of winning another treble stay remains present.

Manchester City have already picked up two trophies since the start of the season; the Super Cup against last year's Europa League winners Sevilla and recently, the FIFA Club World for the first time in their history after defeating Fluminense 4-0.

The Community Shield and League Cup being the two that City did miss out on, the Coumminty Shield game ending in victory for Arsenal and the League Cup going Newcastle ways.

But despite those two trophies being ruled out for Man City, you wouldn't be too far off when thinking that City probably didn't dwell too much on those losses.

But now, the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League are all still available for Man City to add to their trophy cabinet, and if they were to, it would be the same trophies that made history for City last year.

So, as we enter the last few months of the 23/24 campaign, here are some takes on City's outcome in all three competitions.

FA Cup

In an exciting Manchester derby-based final, City were 2-1 winners after a brace from former player Ilkay Guendogan to become FA Cup champions for the 22/23 season.

As for this year, Man City have started their journey as they overcame Huddersfield Town last weekend in a roaring 5-0 win. For the next round, the Cityzens will face Tottenham. The last time the two sides met was in the Premier League, which ended in an enthralling 3-3 draw.

But, City will prepare for a different and beneficial scoreline for themselves when they face Spurs in the hope of continuing their participation in the Cup.

Will Manchester City win the FA Cup?

Prediction: No.

Now, let me explain why I believe City might not win the FA Cup this time around. I think it's safe to say that this is a club that can never be ruled out of anything; going into pretty much any fixture, City will always be the favorites, and that's also my mindset.

But, Man City has struggled on a few occasions thus far into the season to either get three points, and even some victories have been down to the last few minutes of the 90.

A lot of those moments have come in the Premier League, where it can be made up for in the next game, but in the FA Cup, it's all or nothing, as elimination is the outcome for the losing side.

And while I do still believe City are more than capable than any other club in the competition to win the title at the end of the season, there isn't full confidence that City would 100% surpass Arsenal or Liverpool.

Premier League

Manchester City's favorite competition, you'd say. For the last three seasons, City has been right at the top of the League table when it's time for the winner to be crowned. Last year, for a while, it was looking like the Gunners were going to take City's title from them, but it was indeed Man City's trophy to win, with five points separating them from Arsenal at the end.

For the 23/24 season, Manchester City are currently sitting five points behind leaders Liverpool and and two points behind second-placed Aston Villa, putting the Cityzens on third. And it's to be remembered that they have played one match less than the top two mentioned.

Having played 19 games of the League thus far, City have won 12, drawn four, and lost three. In comparsion to last season, where they finished with a combination of 10 none wins (five losses, five draws). Currently City are already close to that stat having only played a total of 19 matchdays.

And it is a statistic that does show a rather significant difference in how their season is going compared to the last, but City still has a lot of time to turn it around.

Will Manchester City win the Premier League?

Prediction: Yes.

Like I mentioned, while City have a rather big difference in results this time around, not every season will be identical, and they are still well and truly in contention to be Premier League winners for a fourth year in a row.

And while it's a must that performances and results will have to improve in order to win the League, the probability of City doing just that sounds more than likely, and that is why I believe that Manchester City will win the Premier League.

Champions League

The UEFA Champions League. It was a dream that was desired for a very long time by the club, and after they came ever so close in 2021 and 2022, it was in 2023 that the long-awaited dream finally came true after overcoming Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul.

Now, after a perfect group stage, getting wins over Leipzig, Young Boys, and Red Star Belgrade, Manchester City topped their group, which placed in point one for the round of 16 draws, leading them to a fixture next month against Copenhagen.

During the six group stage matchdays, City got three 3-1 victories over all three opponents in a row. For the last three games, a 3-0 win against Young Boys, which was also the only clean sheet for City in this season's UCL thus far.

Matchday five was a dramatic evening as Man City found themselves 2-0 down against Leipzig just 32 minutes in, but as the second half arrived, City turned it around and won 3-2.

For the last matchday of the group, City played Red Star, which ended 3-2 in their favour.

Now, as we reach the elimination rounds of the Champions League, City will meet Copenhagen in a few weeks time over the course of two games.

Will Manchester City win the Champions League?

Prediction: Unsure.

The Champions League is always a difficult one to predict at this point of the competition. We've only watched the group stage, and there were only a few standout teams, giving a little inkling of how things could play out, but as we all know, the Champions League is never predictable.

During the group stage, Man City did prove themselves to be one of the few standout sides, winning all of their games, qualifying early, and topping their group.

Saying that, City's performances weren't 100% convincing for the later rounds, only keeping one clean sheet and conceding seven goals in a group you'd say wasn't the toughest of the lot.

But, for myself, the group stage doesn't always prove the outcome of the Champions League, hence my thoughts that even though City weren't perfect in certain matches, it's just something they'll build and improve as time goes on.

Next, it's Copenhagen, and I can say with certainty I believe City will become quarter-finalists and will most likely be drawn with a much tougher club than the ones thus far, which will really require a different level of the squad, which we know City are more than capable of.

My prediction still remains undecided; with it being still too early and my reason given for the FA Cup, I couldn't give a yes or no just yet. But I do believe that City is still considered favorites over all the 15 remaining clubs and have the best squad to bag their second Champions League trophy.