Manchester City: Preseason squad rankings

Before Manchester City kick a Premier League ball this season, there’s already a hierarchy in the squad. Here’s how things look in the preseason.

There’s one person left off this list who’d be challenging at the top if eligible: Pep Guardiola.

The manager had been flirting with the Premier League for years and finally decided to make the move after asserting total dominance with Barcelona and running a comprehensive domestic monopoly for Bayern. Manchester City were quick to dump poor Manuel Pellegrini to the curb.

Unfortunately in this business, they had to do that. If they had the chance to sign one of the best manager’s in the world and passed it up, imagine the fume it’d create if Manchester United were able to convince him to come to Old Trafford?

Now City’s typically star-studded first team is accompanied by a manager of an even greater stature, fully rounding the team.

Well, it’s not particularly a round team. Somehow despite all the money they’ve thrown at the defense to fix it, it’s still suspect. A lot of that relies on Vincent Kompany’s fickle calves that keep giving out on him. Eliaquim Mangala has been underwhelming at best and Nic Otamendi hasn’t particularly set Manchester on fire yet.

But in the midfield and attack, they’re as potent as ever. And they’ve been boosted by Nolito and Ilkay Gundogan.

As far as the player hierarchy for now, there’s the usual suspects. Some are getting older and falling, and are subject to fall further after the season gets underway, but the top 10 at this club can compete with any in the world by talent. With Guardiola, they should have the tactics and discipline to match.

Here’s how the players at Manchester City stack up.

Next: 10. Kelechi Iheanacho