Standing Alone: Stories of Heroism and Heartbreak from Manchester City's 2020/21 Title-Winning Season

by Sam Lee, Daniel Taylor, Oliver Kay

Overview

This is the story of Manchester City's return to the top of English football as well as their journey to their first ever Champions League final as Pep Guardiola's team battle to secure their place in history.

Throughout this historic season of breath-taking football, they were followed by their equivalent from the world of sports writing: a team of elite talents, assembled by The Athletic to leave all competition trailing in their wake. The result is an alchemical blend of inside access and expert analysis; great ideas and beautiful writing.

City's triumph is relived in real time, in 360 degrees. Articles include profiles of each of City's title winners by their former youth team coaches; on-the-road features from the hometowns of some of their international superstars, brilliant tactics board breakdowns of key moments in the season; and exclusive interviews with players, coaches and backroom staff.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913538583
Publisher:	Birlinn, Limited
Publication date:	10/05/2021
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Sam Lee is the superbly-connected reporter recruited to cover City week-to-week; Oliver Kay is an award-winning feature writer poached from The Times; and Daniel Taylor has been named Football Journalist of the Year for the last four years and was previously the chief football writer for The Guardian and The Observer.

Oliver Kay is an award-winning feature writer poached from The Times.

Table of Contents

Introduction v

July

The story of Manchester City's five months in limbo 1

September

What Messi's U-turn means for him. Barcelona and Manchester City 9

Guardiola steps into the unknown 15

Gloom around Man City looks misplaced, even if they do still need reinforcements 25

When will Manchester City learn? 31

'He spoke non-stop. It was like playing with a dictaphone' - what Ruben Dias does 37

October

Guardiola and Bielsa, the love story 47

Injuries, transfers and errors: where are this Man City squad at? 61

Fernandinho - from Manchester City's Mr Reliable to last-minute firefighter 66

Kyle Walker, an appreciation 71

November

Is Riyad Mahrez too greedy? 81

In 55 days, Sergio Aguero can talk to other clubs - so there's all the fuss? 87

Manchester City's attack let the defence down, for once 92

Explained: Why Pep Guardiola has signed a new deal at Manchester City 97

Qualifying early gives Guardiola a chance to let his players breathe 103

December

Guardiola wants five subs but only used one in lacklustre derby needing spark 111

Unlike Liverpool last season, City aren't playing like losing the title hurt 116

John Stones: The resurrection 122

January

City's destruction of Chelsea had been weeks in the making 131

If Man City keep this up, it might not be long before they really are back 137

Advantage Manchester City … 141

The importance of Ilkay Gundogan 145

Victory over Villa had all the ingredients of a pivotal night in the title race 150

February

No De Bruyne, Aguero, or starting No 9 - it shows how special City can be 159

Zooms with the under-8s and beating Klopp's press - Zinchenko is vital at City 165

Manchester City: The Great Containers 171

March

Relentless Man City are a team on a mission 179

Sterling? Bernardo? Foden? What does Manchester City's best XI look like? 184

Sergio Aguero's exit is emotional - but it's business. Manchester City will look to future with Erling Haaland 188

April

Inside De Bruyne's data report: Sancho comparison and impact of playmaker's possible City exit crucial to new deal 197

Relief, emotion and flair of Phil Foden - Manchester City 'broke the bridge' in Champions League 201

Guardiola knows he has a Sterling problem 206

European Super League: Manchester City have swapped sides, they are betraying their fans 212

This was City at their dominant best: 'The reason we do it is for them' 216

Landmark victory for Guardiola as Manchester City force the issue … by remaining patient 220

Deferring to Mahrez highlighted De Bruyne's other special quality - he is a selfless super-star 225

May

Manchester City have nothing left to fear in the Champions League 233

Slower attacks and a code of honour: Inside story of how Guardiola's Manchester City tock back control of English football 239

Pep Guardiola was supposed to compromise his principles, but he conquered the Premier League by staying true to them 251

Ruben Dias, Player of the Year and a Manchester City captain in all but name 261

Aguero is hurt at manner of City exit but put it aside to do what he always does - score and smile 266

Guardiola and Tuchel's meetings in Munich bars: 'It was like watching two grandmasters of chess, locked in a battle of wits' 270

It's Guardiola's nature to try something different in a big Champions League game. He just can't help himself 275

Manchester City's 2020/21: Great season, terrible ending 283

Manchester City's champions - by the coaches who moulded them 287