Manchester City preview: Five key questions heading into 2026-27 season

What the report says

Manchester City enter the 2026-27 season with a major reset after Pep Guardiola’s departure, according to Al Jazeera’s preview published on 22 August 2026. The club is being led by Enzo Maresca, who takes over after working under Guardiola and later managing Leicester and Chelsea. The article says City begin their Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, with expectations still centered on an immediate challenge for the title.

Al Jazeera highlights several issues shaping the new season. One is how Maresca will preserve enough continuity with Guardiola’s possession-based approach while also imprinting his own style. Another is the loss of Rodri, whose move to Barcelona leaves a major gap in midfield. City have responded by signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported £116m, while also being linked with Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi. The piece says Rodri’s role is difficult to replace and may need to be shared across several younger players.

The article also points to game-management concerns after City dropped points from winning positions last season, and to questions over whether Erling Haaland’s scoring can carry the attack on its own. City’s summer has been further complicated by player departures, including John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Nathan Ake, and by the impact of the World Cup schedule on preseason preparation. Al Jazeera notes that City looked below their best in last weekend’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, adding to the sense of uncertainty around the start of Maresca’s tenure.