Thread by @SoccerPM

A PEP THREAD: With the #PremierLeagueFixtures being released yesterday, our focus has turned back to the PL. Let's quickly forget the BBC blunder of having a pic of LFC winning the CL as their main pic - & they say there's no media bias 🙄. The release reminded me of the coverage

of City's historic treble/quadruple & how journalists like Jonathan Wilson, Miguel Delaney et al decried the end of football as we know it. What they fail to recognise is the impact of Pep. For me he is the sole reason for our success & I'll attempt to prove it with this thread.

If you look at the individuals in our squad there are only a few that you would put in a 🌍 XI or would even get in a squad of 🌍 XIs. There are undoubtedly world class players in our squad but lets look at these individuals to show just what an unbelievable job Pep has done.

Ederson. PL GKOTY and clearly a world class keeper. But there are some who would still have De Gea, Alisson, Oblak or a few others. City fans wouldn't change this absolute freak of a keeper for anything but you could reasonably assert that he wouldn't make a 🌍 XI.

Walker. Has been ovetaken by Trent for 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and whilst still a v.good player, he's definitely only got a season or so left at the top level. City's interest in Cancelo proves this and not many would have Walker anywhere near a 🌍 XI with the likes of Kimmich much better.

Left Back. City have had to deal with no recognised LB for 2 seasons. Playing a converted CM and No.10 in different seasons. Mendy has the potential to be world class but has been overtaken for 🇫🇷 by F.Mendy & Hernandez. Robertson for LFC would also be in a world XI debate.

Centre Back. Laporte is an outstanding defender and City's best. In the PL TOTY but still doesn't get picked in the 🇫🇷 squad and I doubt many would have him next to VVD in a world XI. As for the rest of the defence. Kompany old & crocked. Stones also gets injured too much but

has been great with Laporte, particularly in the BIG games. Otamendi has been great for the club. Had an outstanding 2017/18 but others were preferred last season. Has his faults but a vgood CB. I doubt many other top clubs, with the exception of Laporte, would take our other CBs

DM. Ferna is an absolute legend but up until this season has only truly been recognised for what he truly is: an absolute baller and the heartbeat and rhythm of the side. But still, in his mid-30s which top side now would have him in their side?

AM. This is where City have genuine world beaters. KdB is easily one of, if not, THE best AM in the world. However, we didnt really have him last season, so an even more impressive achievement from Pep to do what he did this past season. Gundogan, even though used as a backup for

Ferna, on his day is better than a DM and such a beautiful footballer. D.Silva is easily City's best ever player. He makes football look like poetry. 2017/18 was perhaps his best ever season (that performance @ Arsenal 😍) and started 2018/19 in the same vein but did tail off.

Foden is easily one of the most promising young talents in world football and is being nurtured to perfection by Pep imo. Will have an even bigger impact in 2019/20. Then there's Bernardo 😍😍😍. What can you say about this maverick. Didn't start that many in 2017/18 but, boy,

has he blossomed this season. Easily a candidate for Ballon D'or (although will miss out). Pep has enabled his talent to shine in multiple positions.

Wingers. I don't know what Pep is feeding Sterling but please keep him eating it up cos he's quite frankly been a revelation.

Sane has got the talent to be whatever he wants to be and the PL YPOTY in 2017/18 has shown indifference this past season with some sublime moments: Liverpool (H) and Schalke (a). Had his nose put of out joint by Pep preferring to invert Sterling and Bernardo. Future uncertain.

Then you have Mahrez. Looked back to his Leicester best at the end of the season but has been indifferent and not trusted by Pep on a consistent basis. I presume this is the similar approach to Bernardo last year so I expect BIG things next season. Good player but not world class

Gabriel Jesus. His record for City and Brazil has been nothing short of fantastic since coming to England. Has the potential to be a great goalscorer and should continue to improve. Aguero's fabulous form has meant his opportunities were limited. Yet to reach potential.

Sergio. Easily one of the best strikers in 🌍 football and most City fans wouldn't have anyone else leading the line. Despite his ridiculous scoring record you could argue there are other strikers who would get in ahead of him in a world🌍 XI, and I include his pal Messi in that.

I could understand the journalists' uproar with City if we had turned the PL into La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga and we just bought our rivals' best players: Hazard, Kante, Kane, Eriksen, Vertongen, VVD, Salah etc. But we don't and we haven't. The worst we've done

is Sterling from LFC, Walker from Spurs and Mahrez from Leicester. We've mostly bought good young talent and nurtured them. Pep needs to take the biggest credit for this. Not just his tactics and style of play, but his mentality. Whilst LFC were busy sacking off the FA Cup vs

Wolves, and other sides were doing the same in both that competition and the Carabao Cup, City were consistently putting out strong sides in every match. Taking the competitions seriously. Pep is a winner. There is not let up. Ask Raheem! Pep is a genius and I'm convinced that

unless someone like Arteta becomes a similar coach under Pep's tutelage, when he goes normal service will remain and the rest of the league will have a chance again. Pep's record shows just how good he is. Some will shout 'cheque book' or 'Champions League fail' but the reality

is, EVERY club in world football would have him. He's turned a great squad with some world class players in it, to a finely tuned, insatiable, record-breaking football side. This isn't the death of football, it's a new reality that Pep, & Pep alone has created #LivingLegend