Manchester City: Optimism and satisfaction dominate at the start of the season

The start of the season for Manchester City has so far gone according to plan: three wins in the Premier League, a victory on penalties against Manchester United in the Community Shield, and a resurgent Erling Haaland, who has already scored a hat-trick. The absence of Rodri has hardly been felt. The transfer window concluded unexpectedly positively when Ilkay Gündogan suddenly became available. Bringing back the popular club legend, who still performs at a high level, is unlikely to cause any discontent. After the lucrative sale of Julian Alvarez, City considered signing a new striker. Candidates such as Kyogo Furuhashi and Orri Oskarsson were discussed. However, Pep Guardiola ultimately decided to be content with the existing options. A survey among City fans subscribed to The Athletic shows that most supporters are satisfied with the transfer activities. Interestingly, only 33 percent believe the midfield needs strengthening. In contrast, 48 percent think the offense needs bolstering, probably to fill the gap left by Alvarez. Thanks to Gündogan, City seems to have already filled this gap. Reactions to the transfer window are predominantly positive. 81 percent of respondents are happy or very happy, although only 18 percent describe themselves as 'very happy'. 64 percent are 'happy' and 15 percent 'unsure'. Only a small percentage is dissatisfied. Gündogan is seen by slightly more than 50 percent of the fans as the best new signing, closely followed by Savinho with 48 percent. The remaining votes go to those who could not decide between the two. Overall, both new arrivals are considered very good additions. The condition of the squad is likewise positively assessed. 60 percent of respondents believe that City is stronger than last season, while 35 percent see no difference. Only 4 percent of fans think the squad is weaker. Expectations for the season are therefore positive. 52 percent of supporters are as hopeful as before the transfer window, and 44 percent are even more optimistic. The return of Gündogan and Savinho’s strong performances contribute to this. A majority of 83 percent of fans believes the squad is in a good position if this should be Guardiola’s last season. Although Guardiola was expected to leave at the end of his contract, some hints suggest he might consider another extension. Should he indeed leave the club, many supporters are satisfied with the long-term potential of the squad. Since City spent less and made more profit than any other club this summer, it is assumed they are financially well-positioned for potentially large transfers next summer. However, a survey revealed that 80 percent of fans would be happy if the club remained frugal, provided academy players are promoted. Rico Lewis, James McAtee, and Oscar Bobb could thus play a larger role in the future. Despite all uncertainties, the overall sentiment among City fans at the beginning of the season is predominantly positive.