2023–24 Manchester City F.C. season

2023–24 Manchester City F.C. season
The 2023–24 season is the 129th season in the existence of Manchester City Football Club and their 22nd consecutive season in the top flight of English football, where they are competing as three-time defending champions. As reigning continental treble winners, Manchester City are participating in seven competitions this season, namely the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield, UEFA Champions League; entering the latter for the 13th consecutive season and as defending champions for the first time; UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup; also making their debut in the latter two tournaments.
City kicked off the unprecedented season on 6 August 2023 by losing the Community Shield for the third consecutive year, this time to Arsenal. They drew 1–1 in normal time, having conceded an eleventh-minute injury time equaliser and lost the subsequent penalty shoot-out 1–4. As such, the Blues have lost out on an opportunity to become only the third European men's club to win the sextuple. City clinched their first trophy of the season ten days later, on 16 August, in another one-off match, overcoming Sevilla on penalties after a 1–1 draw after extra time for the club's first-ever UEFA Super Cup. On 27 September, the Blues were knocked out of the League Cup in the third round by Newcastle United following a 1–0 away loss.
The season is the first since 2015–16 without German midfielder and former club captain İlkay Gündoğan, who departed to Barcelona at the end of his contract in the summer.
Kits
Supplier: Puma / Sponsor: Etihad Airways
Season summary
Pre-season
In the aftermath of their historic continental treble-winning season in 2022–23, City's main squad issues ahead of the new season were whether incumbent club captain İlkay Gündoğan would sign a new contract or leave the club on a free transfer after seven successful years; if Kyle Walker would be transferred ahead of his final contract year; whether Aymeric Laporte would be leaving for more playing time, following a season in which he had fallen down the pecking order for central defenders; and, after several years of pre-season speculation, if Bernardo Silva could attract an acceptable fee to allow him to move away from Manchester too.
It was rumoured that City were in transfer talks with Mateo Kovačić from Chelsea and with Joško Gvardiol from RB Leipzig as potential replacements for Gündoğan and Laporte, respectively.
On 21 June, it was announced that Gündoğan would be joining Barcelona on the expiration of his contract after all. His last action as a City player was therefore lifting the club's first Champions League trophy as team captain. On the same day, it was reported that Manchester City had agreed a fee with Chelsea for the transfer of Kovačić.
To further strengthen the team's midfield, City also entered a bidding race with Arsenal for West Ham's Declan Rice, a player similar in profile to Rodri. The club's first offer of £80 million guaranteed plus £10 million in add-ons was rejected by West Ham. Man City pulled out of the race to sign Rice, after West Ham rejected Arsenal's bid of £100 million plus £5 million in add-ons, instead opting to find other players to strengthen their midfield, first being linked with Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga.
Kovačić's transfer was duly announced on 27 June, for a reported initial fee of £25m plus £5m in potential add-ons.
On 28 July, City announced Riyad Mahrez was leaving the club after five successful years to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Professional League for a £30 million fee. He was one of many high-profile players in their thirties attracted by lucrative contract offers to join the Saudi league that summer.
The transfer of Gvardiol was confirmed on 5 August after several weeks of negotiations with Leipzig for a reported fee of €90 million (£77.5 million). The club confirmed he would take the 24 shirt number for the season, last worn by John Stones during his first year at City.
The Blues started their pre-season preparations some one to two weeks later than their main rivals to account for their late finish to the previous treble-winning campaign. City played three friendly warm-up games in a tour of Japan and South Korea, where they defeated Yokohama F. Marinos, a fellow CFG club, and Bayern Munich, but lost to Atlético Madrid.
Start of season
City suffered a defeat for the third consecutive season in their opening competitive fixture, losing the Community Shield on penalties to Arsenal after a 1–1 draw in normal time at Wembley Stadium on 6 August. Cole Palmer had scored from a wonderful curling shot in the 77th minute, but Leandro Trossard equalised in the eleventh minute of injury time when a cruel double deflection from Julián Álvarez and Manuel Akanji wrong-footed Stefan Ortega. In the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Arsenal scored all four penalties, but Kevin De Bruyne's powerful drive hit the cross-bar and Rodri's attempt was saved by Aaron Ramsdale. Losing the English equivalent of a national super cup deprived Manchester City of the opportunity to become only the third European men's club to win the sextuple.
Manchester City started their Premier League campaign with a 3–0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor. Erling Haaland scored twice, and Rodri also chipped in with a goal to seal the victory. Kevin De Bruyne was substituted in the first half, and Pep Guardiola later confirmed that he had sustained a hamstring injury which could keep him out for up to four months if surgery was needed.
On 16 August, City played Sevilla in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup, winning on penalties after a 1–1 draw in normal time and lifting the trophy for the first time in club history.
On 22 August, it was revealed that Pep Guardiola had undergone emergency back surgery and would be unavailable until recovery. During this time, assistant manager Juanma Lillo took charge, winning two games against Sheffield United away and Fulham at home by the scores of 2–1 and 5–1 respectively. The latter game included Haaland's first hat-trick of the season as he became the fastest player to score 40 Premier League goals (in just 39 games), beating the previous records set by Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer.
In the final days of the transfer window City brought in exciting Belgian winger Jérémy Doku from Stade Rennais, to effectively replace Mahrez, and creative Portuguese midfielder Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers, both for fees in excess of £50 million. In the other direction, Aymeric Laporte left the club as expected to join Al Nassr in the Saudi League, João Cancelo joined Barcelona for a season-long loan, and academy graduate Cole Palmer joined Chelsea for a fee in excess of £40 million.
By the time of the first international break of the season on 3 September, City were the only remaining Premier League club with a 100% win record and topped the standings by a two-point margin. On 16 September, the Blues extended their winning start in the league to five games by defeating West Ham 3–1 at the London Stadium, with goals from new signing Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
City's winning run came to an abrupt end at St James' Park vs Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup third round, with the Blues being shut out by a reinvigorated Eddie Howe side and exiting the competition at the first hurdle. This was followed by the first league defeat after six consecutive victories at Wolves, with Álvarez scoring an equalising free kick in an eventual 1–2 loss.
First-team squad
As of 1 September 2023
Transfers
Transfers in
Transfers out
Loans out
New contracts
Pre-season and friendlies
On 20 April 2023, Manchester City announced a tour of South Korea as part of the pre-season preparations in July, where they would take on Atlético Madrid in the Coupang Play Series. This tour was the first time City visited South Korea since 1976. The club later announced that two friendlies against Yokohama F. Marinos, a fellow CFG club, and Bayern Munich, who City faced a year ago in the United States, would take place in Tokyo before the team traveled to South Korea.
Competitions
Overall record
Premier League
League table
Results summary
Results by matchday
1 Matchday 18 (vs Brentford) was postponed until further notice due to Manchester City's participation in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
Matches
The league fixtures were released on 15 June 2023.
FA Cup
As a Premier League team, Manchester City will enter the FA Cup in the third round proper.
EFL Cup
As a Premier League team involved in European competition, Manchester City entered the EFL Cup in the third round and were drawn away to fellow Premier League side Newcastle United.
FA Community Shield
As the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup winners, Manchester City faced league runners-up Arsenal in the traditional season curtain raiser.
UEFA Champions League
Group stage
The group stage draw took place in Monaco on 31 August 2023.
UEFA Super Cup
As the previous season's UEFA Champions League winners, Manchester City faced the reigning UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla.
FIFA Club World Cup
Manchester City will enter the tournament in the semi-finals as the European representative, having been drawn against the winner of the quarter-final match between León and Urawa Red Diamonds.
Statistics
Overall
Appearances numbers are for appearances in competitive games only, including substitute appearances.
Red card numbers denote: numbers in parentheses represent red cards overturned for wrongful dismissal.Source for all stats:
Goalscorers
Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted alphabetically by surname when total goals are equal.
Assists
Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted alphabetically by surname when total assists are equal.
Disciplinary record
Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted alphabetically by surname when total cards are equal.
Hat-tricks
Clean sheets
The list is sorted by shirt number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play.
Awards
Etihad Player of the Month
Awarded by an online vote of supporters on the official Manchester City F.C. website.
Notes
References
2023-24
Manchester City
Manchester City
Manchester City