Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has identified one team that will challenge his squad significantly in the 2024/25 season, and it’s not who you might think.
City began their Premier League title defense positively with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
Before the season kicked off, Guardiola assessed which Premier League teams might challenge Manchester City as they seek to secure a fifth consecutive title.
In his analysis, the Catalan manager highlighted one team that poses a particular threat, though it may not be an obvious choice. Speaking to Men in Blazers, Guardiola remarked: “Newcastle will be formidable because they only have one match a week. Without European competition, their energy and physicality will be intense. Facing them will be daunting.”
Last season, Newcastle United faced difficulties due to several high-profile injuries and finished seventh in the Premier League, missing out on European competition.
Given this, Guardiola anticipates Newcastle will be a tough opponent this season with their lighter schedule compared to teams involved in European matches.
Guardiola’s prediction seems accurate as Newcastle began their season with a 1-0 win against newly-promoted Southampton, even with a man down for part of the game. However, Newcastle is not the only team Guardiola is concerned about. He also mentioned several others likely to challenge City at the top of the table.
He added: “Arsenal are top contenders. Tottenham will be strong due to their style of play. Liverpool’s pre-season under Arne Slot has been impressive. United and Chelsea have made significant signings. Aston Villa’s performance in the Champions League will be telling. There will be six or seven teams vying for the top spot, making it a tough season.”
