Biggest challengers for the 2014-15 Premier league Title
As we edge closer to the start of yet another exciting season of the premier league, we look at the various challengers to Manchester City’s crown. Last season Manchester City and Liverpool went head to head and Liverpool ran them close. Chelsea too were in the mix but lost out at matches which mattered most towards the end. Arsenal showed again that they are a top four side but not good enough for the title. Manchester United slumped to their worst league standings in the premier league era and Tottenham, despite making multiple signings, failed to deliver. So which teams will battle it out for the Premier league this time around.
Manchester City:
There is no doubt that City will be the team to beat this season. City has won two titles in the last three seasons. The cash rich club has so much quality and depth in their squad that perhaps arguably, they have the perfect squad not only in England but the whole of Europe. They have world class options at every position. They may have dominated the premier league for the past few seasons but with the squad they have they will surely targeting Europe this season. Unfortunately they have been getting tougher groups or draws in Europe, but this time around they should get at least to the quarter finals.
City already have an enviable squad. They have players who can adapt, who can dictate play or who can also play fast flowing football. The only way they can fail this season is through their own complacency. Last season they tore apart each and every opposition at home. Though their away form was shaky at times they did improve towards the end of the season. City won the title in style last season scoring 102 league goals along the way. This time though they can expect it to be a bit tougher with Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool strengthening their squads as well.
Not that this squad needs to change much but no matter how good a squad is, it does needs to get refreshed every now and then. City have bought Sagna from Arsenal, Fernando from Porto and Wily Caballero from Malaga. Manuel Pellegrini has tweaked his squad so that they could challenge for each and every trophy. Honestly looking at other teams, except for Chelsea, Manchester City should have no problem retaining their crown next year. Hence there is little doubt they are the favorites to retain their title again next year.
Chelsea:
Last season Chelsea got their best signing – Jose Mourinho. The wily Portuguese was welcome back by the Chelsea fans with open heart as he has always been their favorite. His last term brought trophies galore along with dominance in English football. Chelsea fans expected the same this time around too. They way Chelsea started their campaign certainly suggested that Jose would sweep the premier league once again. But obvious flaws like lack of goals from the strikers and a lack of genuine box to box creative midfielder was their downfall. They were top of the league and had their chances but somehow Jose couldn’t pull the rabbit out of the hat this time.
But that was last year though. This time around Jose has not only covered up the squad weakness but also bolstered it with World class talents. The striker problem has been taken care by getting Diego Costa, who was one of the best strikers in Europe with over 30 goals which helped Atletico Madrid to win the La Liga over their more prosperous rivals. To back him up he has even bought back Fan favorite Dider Drogba. He also has option of the talented Lukaku who did well in his loan spell at Everton.
But the Star signing undoubtedly has to be Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona. He will add creativity, vision and goals to their already burgeoning midfield. And to cover the loss of Ashley cole, they have brought in Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid. Overall the squad looks very good and balanced and perhaps the only one to challenge Manchester City’s dominance. With Jose putting together a team as per his liking, you can sense that Chelsea will go all out for the Premier league crown.