Does this Manchester City squad have one more run left in them?

Eventually, all dynasties come to an end. That’s the nature of all sports, and that statement especially rings true in football. Pep Guardiola said as much after his team’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday. But when you look at the Manchester City squad you do begin to think that perhaps some of them are on their last run at the club. With that in mind, does the current Manchester City squad have one more title-winning run in them?

Against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, the City squad began to have an older look to it. Fabian Hurzeler’s substitutions swung the game in his team’s favour. With fresh legs on the pitch, Brighton eventually took control of the second half. That helped them overcome the world champions with a 2-1 win. At times it did appear that Manchester City’s players couldn’t keep up with their younger and hungrier opponent. Injuries have decimated Pep Guardiola’s squad, and so has the reliance on players who aren’t at full fitness. But age may also be catching up to the world champions.

A look at the Manchester City squad shows that it is an ageing squad. That especially stands out in midfield. As per transfermarkt.com the average age of the City squad is 27.8 years of age. But where the champions are showing their age is in midfield. The average of Manchester City’s midfield jumps up to 29.3 years of age as per transfermarkt.com. In regular circumstances that may not be a problem. But when the same players are being forced to play every 3/4 days it becomes a major issue.

Looking across the City squad several players are 30 or above. Excluding the goalkeepers the list includes John Stones, Kyle Walker, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Jack Grealish are all 29 years of age. Each player listed has been vital to Manchester City’s dominance of English football. But every season where City play deep into every competition does take a toll. As good as the players listed are they are human. Father Time catches everyone and at times some of City’s players have looked to be slowing down. Perhaps having a fully fit squad may alleviate this issue. The hope is that it can.

But to the question at hand, does this Manchester City squad and in particular the older players have one more title run in them? Only a fool would write off Pep Guardiola and his players. They have shown time and time again that they can rise when the chips are down. That ability has seen them dominate English football and become one of the dominant teams in Europe over the past 7 years. But this season several of City’s players do look to be showing their age. There’s no doubt if City can get their injured players back the quality is there to create even more history.

If they do so again it may be this group of City’s senior players greatest ever triumph. It is only November so there is still plenty to play out. But that is the challenge that lies ahead of City’s players this season. To prove that they do have one more successful run in them. I believe they do and am fascinated to see if they can maintain their place at the top of the English game once again.