Manchester City headed into this season as the favourites to win the Premier League title. However, their status was mainly because Pep Guardiola had such brilliant attacking options at his disposal.
True the Citizens forward players have been in hot form this season. However, the team’s defensive set-up has looked far more solid in recent weeks, as Guardiola’s side have started to amass an impressive number of clean sheets.
While the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane have been tearing it up in attack, the City backline has conceded just once in their last seven outings in all competitions.
The fact that City now has greater control of their games at times has no doubt contributed majorly to the defensive improvement. However, the likes of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi deserve credit for their upturn in form.
Both centre-backs have produced unconvincing defensive displays in their City careers so far. This season, though, the pair look slightly more assured at the heart of the Citizens backline. Maybe the addition of Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson has helped settle the pair.
The former Benfica seems like a very cool and calm character. The goalkeeper endured a few hairy moments in his early City career, but in recent games, he has looked very assured.
The fact that City could be so comfortable defensively against champions Chelsea last weekend and record a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge suggests that the Citizens are stronger as a team.
The only issue that held City back last season was their defensive displays at times. Unfortunately for the rest of the league it now seems like the Citizens have sorted out their defensive problems. That is bad news for their title rivals too, as City as a whole are looking in very good form at the moment.