2026-27 season preview: Manchester City

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is over, and that means one thing: the return of global club soccer.

The 2026-27 European season will kick off in mid-August. Spain's La Liga will return on Saturday, Aug. 15; England's Premier League and France's Ligue 1 will return on Friday, Aug. 21; Italy's Serie A will return on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Germany's Bundesliga will return on Friday, Aug. 28.

The world's top clubs have been busy since the end of the World Cup. But what are their stories? How did they perform last season? Which players have they signed and sold to prepare for this one? And what will success look like for them throughout this new campaign?

We're breaking down Europe's top teams in advance of the 2026-27 season. We started things off with 2025-26 trophy winners Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa and Arsenal — next up is perennial Premier League challenger Manchester City.

How did things go for Manchester City last season?

Not brilliantly, if we're all being honest with ourselves. The team missed out on the Premier League championship for the second season in a row after stringing together four straight victories between 2021 and 2024. It crashed out of the Champions League against Real Madrid in the Round of 16 and never looked truly competitive on European soil. City did manage to win the FA Cup, though, which goes to show you just how dominant the team is. Even a poor season still resulted in a trophy.

City's biggest loss in 2025-26 didn't come on the field, though. It came in the boardroom. In May 2026, talismanic coach Pep Guardiola announced he'd be leaving the club after 10 years of stellar service. 

"Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving," he said in an official statement to fans. "There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. 

"Nothing is eternal. If it was, I would be here."

City appointed former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca in Guardiola's stead for the 2026-27 season. While Maresca is well regarded in Premier League circles, his signing was met with some concern. He crashed out at Chelsea after clashing with the team's owners and carries an earned reputation for hotheaded imprudence.

What will success look like for Manchester City this season?

Staying the course. Guardiola's shoes are impossible to fill, but if Maresca can keep City competitive and in the hunt for minor trophies, his first season will be viewed as a tentative success. A stronger showing in the Champions League will help his case, too. City hasn't advanced past the quarterfinals of the competition since it won the whole thing in 2023. 

Which players have arrived?

The big name is English midfielder Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest. Anderson had a breakthrough season in 2025-26 and a brilliant World Cup for England, and he should add spark and energy to City's already-strong midfield. If City loses defensive midfielder Rodri — as it is widely expected to do — then Anderson will quickly become a crucial part of the team's central setup.