You’re either a die-hard Manchester City fan or just someone who doesn’t fancy a challenge if you’re planning on taking over from Pep Guardiola, straight after his side dominated the Premier League, but each to their own.
Football FanCast have you covered either way our comprehensive guide to the Sky Blues on Football Manager 2019.
The board’s expectations
Should you take the helm at the Etihad Stadium, the board’s minimum expectation is to retain the Premier League crown for the first time in the club’s history – you would also be the first team to do so since Manchester United accomplished the feat a decade ago.
Outside the bread and butter of the Premier League, an FA Cup Final appearance is a must, along with reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The transfer war chest
As you would expect being Manchester City, the transfer budget is sizeable, but not as much as you may think.
City Football Group Limited offer £56.9million to play with, which is some way shy of their red neighbours. The Sky Blues also have a £400,000 wage budget.
Three players to buy
Jack Butland
In Ederson, City have one of the best goalkeepers in world football, but the Brazilian does not have an adequate number two in Claudio Bravo.
Stoke City’s Jack Butland is still only 25, so will be around for some time yet, is one of the better options a little further down the top-draw shot-stoppers list, and the Championship goalie is valued at £24m.
Matthijs de Ligt
Manchester City have been heavily linked with a move for Ajax wonderkid Matthijs de Ligt in real life, and you should make that rumour come true in Football Manager 2019.
The 19-year-old is hotly anticipated to go on to become one of the best defenders around, and the game matches that with great potential. But bear in mind his £7.25million valuation does not represent his true worth.
Saul Niguez
Even when a side has just won the league by 19 points, there is still room for improvement, somehow, and that position at City is central midfield with Fernandinho now 33-years-old.
Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez would be the perfect man to replace the Brazilian, as the Spaniard is already one of the best central options – either defensively or in centrally – on FM19, and at 23 has years still in him.
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Three players to sell
Vincent Kompany
He may be City’s third-best centre-back, behind Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, but Vincent Kompany should be transfer listed and touted to clubs around the world.
He’s 32 now and, despite all his injury problems and lesser-part role, the Belgian leader is valued at an astonishing £53million. You simply cannot turn down that sort of money for a depreciating asset.
Eliaquim Mangala
The former best central defender in Liga NOS never repeated his successful FC Porto days in Manchester and now harbours a transfer value of just £14.75million.
He’ll start your career in the physio’s room with an injury, which can make his departure tricky, but the Frenchman will never rival anything beyond an early round cup player, and the kids can do that.
David Silva
David Silva is a Spanish genius and should by no means be transfer listed unless you have serious spending in mind.
The attacking midfielder is one of your best assets, but with a £67milllion valuation and at 32, could be sold for a fresh face with Bernardo Silva snapping at his heels and Kevin De Bruyne another fantastic creative force.
Three for the future
Phil Foden
Phil Foden is by far one of the brightest talents to come out of Manchester City’s academy, and it is only right to respect the teenager by giving him as much game time as possible.
He’ll go on to become a world-class player, and easily challenge for first-team football given a chance.
Claudio Gomes
If Fernandinho was a few years younger, you’d be set for over a decade in central midfield with Claudio Gomes emerging from the youth ranks.
The French midfielder will turn into a world-class talent over time, and would be perfect in the defensive role, just he’s not quite ready to play for the first-team.
Douglas Luiz
Twenty-year-old Douglas Luiz is a bit closer to the first-team than his younger counterpart from France, but the Brazilian’s immense potential will only be met with a great player tag, just missing out on world-class.