The core of Manchester City’s rebuild is already there it’s just the other gaps that need to be filled | OneFootball

We knew Manchester City’s rebuild was underway but the manner of last night’s 3-1 loss to Real Madrid last night at the Bernabeu showed the size of the task at hand for the City hierarchy. It isn’t a minor rebuild that is required of Pep Guardiola’s squad. There are a host of players that will need to be replaced in the world champions squad. But despite this, the core of Manchester City’s next squad is already there. That has been lost in the reaction to last night’s defeat to Real Madrid.

Looking at how Manchester City played last night some of City’s better performers were their new signings and younger players. Nico toiled away manfully in midfield. Abdukodir Khusanov played well at right-back considering the circumstances. Omar Marmoush never stopped trying despite the lack of service. The same can be said for Josko Gvardiol. Savinho didn’t have the impact he’d have liked but that was more down to Real Madrid’s dominance than his failings. Erling Haaland didn’t play last night due to injury. But he is the cornerstone of Manchester City’s rebuild alongside Phil Foden. Rico Lewis is another young player with a bright future. Based on those names alone the core of City’s rebuild is there.

It is obvious now that a host of Manchester City’s senior players could and will depart during the summer transfer window. A report from Jeremy Cross for the Daily Star indicates that Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Ederson could all potentially leave Manchester City in the summer. That’s the void that will need to be filled in Manchester City’s rebuild. It’s doubtful that all of those players will leave. But a host of them will. The players who are brought in to replace them must complement City’s younger players to form the foundation of Pep Guardiola’s next squad.

But despite the manner of Manchester City’s defeat last night the core of Pep Guardiola’s next squad is there. We saw flashes of that last night, although they were fleeting. It will be a massive task for Manchester City to rebuild as club legends depart. But with a host of key pieces already there if they get it right in the summer they will bounce back quickly.