On the Premier League
As it’s only a matter of hours before what is believed to be the world’s most competitive league, the Premier League, starts for a yearlong season, it may be interesting to take a tour d’horizon of what might be expected of it. To be clear, this isn’t an attempt to soothsaying; nor does it has anything to do with a kind of tempted clairvoyant trying to foretell the unforeseen.
That being said, with the clock ticking, and doing so quickly, many questions animate interested minds of which many will have to wait until the end of the season to be answered; but many of these questions will certainly find answers as the league goes by.
For instance, will Manchester City reclaim the title to join the selectively privileged clubs to have done so; that is, will they be able to keep up their prowess of a dominant force, if only domestically? With their impressive run last season, they have made history, written a new chapter in the League’s history, and made even their most fierce rivals bow to their historically unprecedented achievement throughout the campaign. I’ve never been an admirer of neither the club nor the coach. Indeed, as a person, I have no liking in Pep Guardiola—for his constant mistreatments of players, who, once upon a time, have nearly all been among my favorites. Yet, as a coach, one has to be acknowledged that he is amongst the select few with a serial winning mentality; and for that I respect him.
By finishing strongly along with their impressive signing this summer, Man City may have the necessary confidence and refreshment to indeed maintain the title, of course, with the caveat that this is the Premier League, not some other leagues where a single club could singlehandedly manage to claim the throne for years, consecutively.
Liverpool, the vice-champions of the Champions League, may be the team needed to break down Man City’s dynastical buildup, just as they did last season in both the Premier League and Champions League. In addition to the raised expectations with the new no-less-impressive signings, one would hope that the trio of Mo Salah, Mane, and Firmino maintain their magical brutality and pace that irrevocably efface, with helplessness, their opposing defenders. Moreover, Klopp will certainly have to work on how to concede fewer goals while scoring more and more. To put it bluntly, if Liverpool is to be a serious contender for the English title (and they do have everything to do so), and if they are to end their title drought, Klopp will need some bits of Mourinho's coaching philosophy: to get away with crucial point(s) where they are crucially needed!
Now, speaking of Mourihno, what about Man United, the theater of dreams, and the European capital of trophies? Well, all these might be true, except that, of the past years, the club has conspicuously been less than a “Man” it once used to be, and still less than “United” it once was. The brutal matter of fact remains that Man United has been less than convincing lately. I’m a big fan and a longtime admirer of Mourinho for both his winning mentality and his approach to life. But I think he is in dire need of a new (re)discovery, lest he is doomed to become a funny joke, a past glory, a spent force, and a soon will be forgotten threat. Worse yet, the club, by keeping quiet in the transfer market, is no more helpful than he is himself will to try something different, something new to his footballistic approach. This season is a crucial one for both the Man United and Mourinho: for the club, a poor run this season would mean that they have obviously failed to be where they ought to be, and for Mourinho and his future at Man United as well as for his future career as a manager. Thankfully, he is a serial winner, except that he has been growing irritable and frustrated nearly with everything, which is no good sign for the season ahead. After all, it is his third year at Man United, and Mourihno’s history is quite infamous in his third year at a club. He is, therefore, an interesting case to monitor from today on.
Chelsea and Arsenal? What about them? Though I am an unfailing fan of Chelsea, I’d not bet on either for something greater than they currently are, for the simple reason that they are in their remaking, on their way to future greatness, and there is absolutely no reasonable reason to rush about it. They need time, that is, and they should have. But you never know and cannot never be sure. It is football after all, and the Premier League above all!
Therefore, everything is possible, and nothing impossible.