Areas Where Manchester City Are Actually Better Than Last Season

Even casual observers of Manchester City will have noticed a significant improvement in the quality of their play this season compared to last.

Manuel Pellegrini’s second year in charge saw his side beset by inertia and unable to sustain a title challenge after the turn of the year.

With six games of the season left, their top-four status was in doubt, until a late rally saw them finish comfortably in second. Chelsea, who limped through the final stretch of matches after Jose Mourinho had shied away from rotation for much of the season, were allowed the win the title at a canter.

For an outfit with City’s ambitions, it wasn’t good enough. Pellegrini was under fire, but the club, so often patient in its approach, stuck by the Chilean and handed him a one-year contract extension to alleviate media pressure. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was clear in his message, though: City had to improve their on-field performance and challenge for titles again in 2015/16.

Almost a third of the way through the season and the signs are good. City sit top of the table after 12 games, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, with a place in the Champions League last 16 secured with two group games remaining. In the League Cup, where City have integrated young players, albeit in Pellegrini’s typically cautious way, they face Hull City at home in the quarter-finals. It's been a solid first few months. 

The Premier League is now so full of quality that running away with the title is becoming an increasingly fanciful idea. The new television deal means clubs are set to be imbued by newfound wealth, and, as a result, there are players playing for sides outside the traditional top six who could conceivably play for the top four. It’s been a Premier League cliche for years, but it’s more accurate than ever: there are no easy games in this division.

But City look to have the best squad. Their place at the top of the table has been achieved despite a debilitating injury list. How many other sides could have gone unbeaten for seven games without their best two players?

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Pace and urgency have certainly been added—two ingredients sorely missing during the last campaign. Raheem Sterling was one of the club’s top summer targets, and with the speed he has added to City’s attack, it’s easy to see why.

When City have gone into games with Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Jesus Navas, they have looked full of pace and capable of hitting sides on the break with ruthless efficiency. At times last season, Pellegrini’s side looked slow and lethargic. 

Defensively there’s also been an improvement. City are conceding 0.75 goals per game in the league so far this term, whereas last season, they conceded a goal per game.

That advance is down to a number of factors. Vincent Kompany has rediscovered his best form, and Eliaquim Mangala looks to have learned a lot from his debut season in English football. Throw in Nicolas Otamendi, who is beginning to shine after his summer move from Valencia, and City have a pool of centre-backs competing for places that looks strong.

Kompany isn’t the only existing player whose form has upgraded. Fernandinho, who was undoubtedly one City’s best players last season but still below his best, has rid himself of his post-World Cup demons and has looked like one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the game in recent weeks. His display in Seville during City’s best-ever Champions League display was mind-bendingly good.

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And Fernando, who was becoming a figure of ridicule late last season, has returned from groin surgery to find his feet. City’s only out-and-out defensive midfielder looks set to be a key component of the side—particularly in Europe, where the protection he offers just in front of the back four provides more stability against technically gifted teams.

When City get Aguero, David Silva, Gael Clichy and Fabian Delph all fully fit and involved regularly, they should look even better. But so far, it’s clear they have improved massively on last season’s efforts.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.