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MANCHESTER: When Manchester City ended last season without a major trophy for the first time since 2017, it led to intense debate and conjecture about the club’s direction.

With Liverpool claiming the Premier League title in impressive fashion and spending big this summer, Arsenal have emerged as the side most likely to stop Arne Slot’s side from becoming the dominant force as City had been.

Yet despite a horrific run of just one win in 13 games, Pep Guardiola’s men rallied in the previous campaign to finish third in the table and claim a coveted Champions League place amid fierce competition. That provided hope at the start of a new era.

With an overhaul of the squad, icons such as Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson departed, while Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri and France attacker Rayan Cherki were among the new arrivals.

Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma also joined from Paris Saint-Germain, where he helped the French side win their first Champions League.

For defender Josko Gvardiol, the changes mean it may take time to shape their future, but the ambition remains the same for a club that won an unprecedented four league titles in a row and the 2023 Champions League.

“I’m here to win the games, to lift the trophies as well,” said the 23-year-old. “It’s not even a question (of whether) I want to win it. It is and it has to be like this, otherwise, if you don’t want it, then this is not the place for you.

“But I can tell you I see everyone still has the hunger and desire to win everything, too. This is what we need, and this is a bit of what we missed last season. I’m really happy to see that.”

There was concern again when City started sluggishly with two defeats in their opening three league games.

But a 3-0 derby win over Manchester United and a 2-0 success in their Champions League opener against Napoli have lifted confidence before they visit Arsenal today at Emirates Stadium.

Gvardiol “doesn’t read the comments” that have written City off as title contenders, but the Croatia international admitted: “We are still not at the level we want to be. We need to build slowly.

“Last season, it was not the best; we struggled a lot, but you can see we are still together as a team and having good results.

“We have quality. All we miss is a bit of confidence. The only way to build it back is to go game by game because the season is very long.”

Arsenal will have Viktor Gyokeres leading their attack following his summer move from Sporting, where he scored 54 times for the Portuguese club last season.

It included a hat-trick in a 4-1 Champions League win over City during their troubled period.

But the Etihad outfit have their own prolific striker in Norwegian Erling Haaland, who has scored 12 times this term for club and country.

Three have come this week against neighbors United and then Napoli, where he became the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals.

Haaland, 25, achieved the feat in 49 games, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record, and is expected to challenge the competition’s scoring record of 140 held by Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Everything he does is magic,” added Gvardiol. “It’s so nice to have him up front. I would say they are different, but Gyokeres is a good player. I remember him from the game against Sporting.

“We struggled and we lost the game. As always, Arsenal is going to be a good game, but we will go there and try to win.

“Most of their signings are bringing something new, the style of play, but I can also talk about our new signings, and we are more than happy to have them in our team, and they have adapted really quickly.”

While Egypt forward Marmoush, Algeria left-back Ait-Nouri and Cherki are currently injured, keeper Donnarumma has immediately proved his worth with clean sheets in his first two games.

“Look at Gigio,” said Gvardiol. “I know when I made my debut, it wasn’t that easy to accept everything, the rhythm, the pressure, so I want to congratulate him.

“I know what he did in the Champions League last season. I’ve never seen someone that big in the goal and he can cover everything.

“He gives the defense confidence. If we are to achieve things, it’s not just Erling, it’s about everyone,” he added. “We need to trust each other; it’s the only way we can fight together. If people make mistakes, we are here to support and push each other. That’s who we are and that’s why it’s so special.”

Gvardiol’s return has also helped tighten City’s defense after a knee injury sidelined him at the Club World Cup, where City were upset 4-3 by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in the last 16.

The 23-year-old, who has played at left-back and in central defense, has impressed since his $103 million arrival from RB Leipzig in 2023. 

“If I tell you I want to be at the same level as two years ago, I wouldn’t be happy,” said Gvardiol. “Everyone wants to be the best version, but I think I can perform much better than I did in my first year.”

AVES, Portugal: Jose Mourinho began his second spell in charge of Benfica with a comfortable 3-0 win at AVS on Saturday.
Heorhiy Sudakov opened the scoring at the end of the first half for the visitors, with Vangelis Pavlidis netting the second from the penalty spot before the hour mark.
Franjo Ivanovic rounded off the rout for Benfica, who moved second in the table, five points behind leaders Porto having played one fewer match.
The veteran Portuguese coach, back at the helm of the Eagles 25 years on, celebrated the third goal furiously, pumping his first and kicking a cone.
The 62-year-old, who also coached Porto in the Portuguese top flight before leaving in 2004 to join Chelsea, will face both those teams within the next 15 days.
Mourinho, who won trophies with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan as well as coaching various other sides, was sacked by Fenerbahce in August.
Benfica ousted coach Bruno Lage this week after a surprise defeat in the Champions League by Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag and appointed Mourinho as his replacement on Thursday.
His first spell at the club lasted just 11 games but Mourinho said on his presentation that he was more “mature” and “altruistic” now.