Manchester City have steadied themselves following an inconsistent start to the 2025/26 season.
Pep Guardiola has tweaked his tactical system, and brought in a host of new players, as the Catalan coach looks to build for the long-term in Manchester.
After picking up just one win in their opening three Premier League games before the September international break, City are unbeaten in the following six across all competitions, after a 2-2 Champions League draw at AS Monaco.
However. there is still a sense of Guardiola's plans being a work in progress, with major decisions incoming in 2026 at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola was ruthless in his summer call to let three former club captains move on as Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Kyle Walker all departed.
Bernardo Silva was named as captain, as he heads into the final year of his contract, after winning six top-flight titles and the UCL at City.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
A return to Benfica could be on the cards for the 31-year-old, and his performance in Monaco was called out by ex-England international Chris Sutton, who highlighted the Portugal international as a weakness in City's set up - alongside the injury-prone John Stones.
"I was wondering why Guardiola was playing Silva out wide [vs. Monaco]. I don't understand why he took [Jeremy] Doku off and kept Silva on," as per BBC Sport.
"I'm not saying he's a liability out there, but he doesn't have the ability to go past the full-back. That's a massive problem. All the good stuff came down City's left, or from [Phil] Foden - he was superb in the first half.
"On the right you've got John Stones - who's been a wonderful player throughout his career at centre-back - and Silva.
"They're not dynamic anymore. They're not at the top of their game. I think there's a problem for City.
"There were times in both halves where Silva was one v one and knows it's not his game to drive at defenders. Silva from a couple of years ago, when he was more dynamic, maybe he would have done that.
"That right side is a massive problem for Guardiola if he continues playing the pair of them."
City head to Brentford for their final game before the international break - on October 5 - and one or both of Stones and Silva could be rested.
Man City news and related links
- Haaland's Champions League goals record: How many City star needs to beat Ronaldo
- Man City to rival Man United for La Liga defender
- The impressive Monaco stat which Man City fans should worry about