Ferdinand: Huge Challenge for Man City in Retaining the Treble

Kevin De Bruyne's injury and the departures of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez will make it difficult for Manchester City to retain the treble, according to Rio Ferdinand. Ferdinand believes City are now a weaker side compared to last season and that manager Pep Guardiola faces a significant challenge. He also highlighted the pressure on Erling Haaland to replicate his goal-scoring feats from last season.

Manchester City's chances of retaining the treble are in doubt, according to former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand. Last season, City made history by winning the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup, becoming only the second English team to achieve this feat after Manchester United in 1999. However, City is now facing challenges at the start of the new season. Ilkay Gundogan, who captained the team to their treble triumph, has joined Barcelona, while Riyad Mahrez has signed for Al-Ahli. Furthermore, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is out for three to four months due to a hamstring injury.

Ferdinand believes that the absence of Gundogan, Mahrez, and De Bruyne will pose significant problems for City. He states that no English team has successfully retained the treble, and it will be a difficult task for City to do so. Maintaining consistency without key players like De Bruyne for an extended period will be a tall order. Ferdinand draws a comparison to his time at Manchester United, where Sir Alex Ferguson demanded consistent performances from his players. Guardiola now faces a similar challenge of getting the best out of his squad.

Ferdinand also suggests that City's current team is weaker than last season. Losing the goals and assists provided by Mahrez, Gundogan, and De Bruyne is a significant blow, and the replacements brought in will need to step up. Ferdinand highlights the importance of players like Cole Palmer and Jack Grealish in filling the void left by the departed players. He emphasizes the need for Palmer to contribute with goals and Grealish to elevate his performance.

Former City defender Joleon Lescott echoes Ferdinand's sentiments, emphasizing the significant contributions made by Gundogan, Mahrez, and De Bruyne last season. These three players were responsible for 80 goals, and their absence will be felt by the team.

Additionally, Ferdinand mentions the pressure on Erling Haaland to replicate his remarkable goal-scoring record from last season. Haaland scored 52 goals in all competitions, and Ferdinand questions whether he can reach that tally again and potentially even surpass it.

In conclusion, City faces a challenging task in retaining the treble. The departures of key players and the injury to De Bruyne have weakened the team. Guardiola will need to find solutions and rely on the contributions of new signings and existing players to fill the void left by their predecessors. The pressure will also be on Haaland to replicate his exceptional goal-scoring form. Only time will tell if City can overcome these obstacles and achieve another historic treble.