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Modest City begin bid for Premier League history
AGENCIES
Manchester City kick-off the new Premier League season at Burnley on Friday to begin their bid to become the first side to ever win four consecutive English top-flight titles but manager Pep Guardiola remained humble as he said that his side will not be able to scale the dizzying heights of last season’s treble-winning campaign.
Arsenal appear best-placed to capitalise if City’s grip on the English game is to come to an end and will expect to get off to a flier at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
City are still riding the wave of euphoria from the end of last season as they added the club’s first ever Champions League to go with Premier League and FA Cup glory -- becoming only the second English team after Manchester United to win treble.
Despite City undoubtedly being favourites in every competition they will feature in this season, Guardiola was rather guarded about the team’s prospects.
“It will not be possible to do what we did last season, it is once in a lifetime,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of Friday’s trip to Turf Moor.
“We climbed the highest mountain last season, but in the last two days we came down from it and now we start again,” added the Spaniard, whose side were beaten in the Community Shield curtain raiser by Arsenal last weekend.
“Everyone has the same intention and there will be a lot of difficulties to climb the mountain as high as possible.”
The summer has not been without its challenges for Guardiola as captain Ilkay Gundogan departed to Barcelona and the riches on offer in Saudi Arabia was too much for Riyad Mahrez to turn down.
Guardiola’s opposite number in the dugout on Friday already has a statue outside the Etihad from his playing days, but Vincent Kompany has quickly established himself as one of the brightest coaching talents on the continent.
The former Belgian captain turned around a club in crisis during his first season at Turf Moor to return Burnley to the Premier League with seven games to spare.
The Clarets are a very different proposition to the side that punched above their weight to survive for six seasons in the top flight under Sean Dyche between 2016 and 2022.
Inspired by Guardiola, Kompany has transformed Burnley into a side that dominate the ball.
“I would play every week of every month of every year against a team the level of Man City. That is the best way to improve,” said Kompany.
Burnley, though, did see the downside of opening up against City when they lost 6-0 in the FA Cup quarterfinals last season.
Guardiola was also all praise for the ex-city player.
“He has changed completely the way Burnley were playing with Sean Dyche and destroyed the Championship. It will be a tough, tough game,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola added that one of City’s two new signings, Josko Gvardiol, who was signed for 90 million euros ($99.15 million) from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig last week, could make his debut against Burnley.
“He’s ready. He’s settled in well. Nathan Ake is ready too,” Guardiola said.