Premier League Preview: Gündogan’s Return Adds to City’s Might; Ipswich Manager Refuses to Go Down Without a Fight

At 22:00 on August 24th, the second round of the 2024/25 Premier League season will see Manchester City host Ipswich Town at their home ground. Manchester City are the reigning Premier League champions, while Ipswich Town have made a direct promotion from the Championship, finishing second. In terms of strength, there is a clear disparity between the two sides. The total value of Manchester City’s squad is €1.31 billion, whereas Ipswich Town’s squad is valued at just €133 million.

The first round saw Manchester City defeat Chelsea 2-0, with goals from Erling Haaland and Kovacic. However, in that match, City were missing several key players from last season, Rodri was not even included in the squad, Foden was on the bench ready to be called upon, and Guardiola boldly employed a three-center-back system, leaving Ake, Stones, and Walker as spectators. From the game’s perspective, this Manchester City side did not exhibit the same level of dominance they had in previous seasons. The tactical switch unexpectedly activated former Chelsea player Kovacic, who proved versatile in midfield, capable of both attack and defense. If he can maintain such performance, he could well serve as a replacement for Rodri. New signing Savio also performed outstandingly, and if not for an unexpected incident, he might have scored his first goal for his new club.

Though Ipswich Town are newly promoted, after significant strengthening over the summer, no one dares to underestimate this small-town team. With nearly €90 million spent, including €23.5 million for Hutchinson, €21.5 million for center-back Greaves from Hull City, loaning Phillips from Manchester City, and signing West Ham’s wing-back Johnson on a free transfer. Clearly, Ipswich Town are coming into the league with determination, refusing to return like the three promoted teams last season. In their opening game against Liverpool, they showed great spirit and fearlessness in the first half, but overall, McKenna’s team struggled to keep up with the high pace and intense competition of the Premier League. Their attacks lacked organization, and their defense lacked strategy, far from the “3D surround offensive” beauty they displayed in the Championship.

Before this match, Manchester City welcomed back Gündogan, captain during their treble-winning season. The German’s surprise return is a significant boost for Guardiola, providing additional support for Rodri. This summer transfer window, Manchester City took an unusual approach, focusing more on efficient squad reduction rather than aggressive recruitment. They transferred Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for over €90 million and saw multiple youth players leave, generating close to €120 million in transfer fees. This indicates that the team’s roster is already luxurious and does not require major changes.

Ipswich Town manager McKenna almost replaced Ten Hag at Old Trafford. As a former Manchester United assistant coach, McKenna led Ipswich Town to two consecutive promotions in three years, showcasing his remarkable coaching ability. Facing world-renowned coach Guardiola, Ipswich may lack confidence for victory, but they won’t go down without a fight.

Historically, the two teams have met 57 times, with Manchester City winning 19, drawing 14, and losing 24, surprisingly behind in head-to-head records. However, their last encounter was in the 2001/02 FA Cup. In Premier League history, they’ve only faced each other twice, with Manchester City losing both times. Back then, Manchester City were a mid-to-lower table team, so losing to Ipswich wasn’t surprising. Now, Manchester City have become a top-tier team globally, and the current situation of both teams has changed dramatically, one aiming for the sky, the other hoping to make a splash in the Premier League.

Pre-match, Manchester City manager Guardiola stated: “Gündogan will be in the squad for this game. Rodri’s physical condition is not yet at its best, Savio is recovering well, and whether he plays will depend on the situation. He also mentioned that barring any injuries or unexpected situations, the club’s transfer activities for this summer are essentially complete.” Ipswich Town manager McKenna said: “Manchester City are the best team, and this is a great opportunity to test my team. Whether in League One or the Championship, Ipswich Town have been the team most capable of pressuring opponents in the front. Facing Manchester City, it may be hard to do so. But the loss in the last game left many valuable lessons for the team.”

With several key players uncertain to play, Manchester City seem to be finding solutions to their “Rodri dependency.” Consecutive matches against strong teams have made Ipswich Town’s start to the season less fortunate, but McKenna certainly doesn’t want his team to go down without a fight.

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