Season synopsis
Premier League final position: 3rd
Uefa Champions League: Knockout phase play-offs, lost 6-3 on aggregate to Real Madrid
FA Cup: Finalists, lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace
League Cup: Fourth Round, lost 2-1 to Tottenham (A)
Given their recent history of almost constant success, it's hard to view Manchester City's 2024/25 campaign as anything other than one of failure.
Their league form dipped horribly after a season-ending injury to key midfielder Rodri before a late rally to secure third place.
There was little respite in the domestic cups, with an early exit in the League Cup and a chastening FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace ending any lingering hopes of silverware.
City's Champions League campaign never got going and a heavy knockout phase defeat to Real Madrid felt inevitable by the time it came around.
With club stalwarts like Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker leaving, several formerly key players out of favour, and a group of January recruits still trying to find their feet, City suddenly feels like a team in transition.
With more ins and outs expected in the summer it's vital they rediscover their Midas touch in the market. A big test awaits City's new sporting director Hugo Viana.
Then, of course, there is the matter of the 115 charges hanging over the club for alleged financial transgressions. The former Manchester United player and prominent pundit Gary Neville this week said it was a “disgrace” that the case is yet to be resolved heading into the summer.
Best performance of the season
Man City 4-0 Newcastle: Omar Marmoush scored a 14-minute hat-trick as City blew Newcastle away 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium back in February.
Given City's struggles, the Magpies had high hopes of improving on their dismal record at the Etihad but ran into an inspired Marmoush and a City side looking more like their old selves. James McAtee added the fourth late on with Newcastle "painful to watch", according to boss Eddie Howe.
Worst performance of the season
Man City 1-2 Man Utd: Take your pick really. The 4-0 home thrashing by Spurs, the 5-1 hammering at Arsenal, the Feyenoord game or any number of late collapses. Let's settle on this December 15 capitulation against City's hated rivals United. The hosts never played well but had victory within their grasp before folding late in the day. Bruno Fernandes (pen) and Amad Diallo scored in the space of a few minutes to complete a dramatic turnaround in front of a stunned and angry Etihad Stadium.
Thriller of the season
Man City 2-2 Arsenal: Before City's form nosedived they battled back to snatch a late draw against Arsenal, their closest rivals in the last two seasons, in one of the best games from the first part of the season. City led through Erling Haaland then trailed to goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel before Leandro Trossard saw red for the visitors on the stroke of half-time. The Gunners dug in bravely to preserve their advantage until John Stones bundled home City's 28th effort on goal deep into injury time. Haaland told Mikel Arteta to “stay humble”, words fed back to him with interest when Arsenal demolished City 5-1 in the reverse fixture.
Player of the season
Josko Gvardiol: The Croatian has enjoyed a strong individual season during a difficult campaign for the team. His versatility has been a plus, with him splitting his playing time between left-back and, with increasing maturity, as a centre-back. At 23, there is still plenty more to come.
Goal of the season
Omar Marmoush v Bournemouth: Given too much space and time but how he took advantage. Absolutely unstoppable effort from the Egyptian.
Manager
Pep Guardiola – 5
For the first time in a very long time the Catalan managerial great looked fallible. Rodri's injury threw his plans into disarray and for months City looked like one of the poorest coached outfits in the division as their attacking output shrivelled and teams repeatedly killed them in transition. That's not to mention the numerous panic-stricken late collapses. There are too many stats to mention, but if it is a negative one pertaining to Guardiola's managerial record then it likely happened in 2024/25.
Goalkeepers
Ederson – 6
Niggles and talk of a move to Saudi Arabia have followed him around this season. Deserves a solid rating if only for his four Premier League assists.
Stefan Ortega – 5
Had opportunities but was unconvincing. Drew his manager's rage after the draw at Brentford and shipped five against Arsenal.
Defenders
Kyle Walker - 3
Former captain looked a shadow of himself before being farmed out on loan to AC Milan.
Matheus Nunes - 5.5
Signed as a midfielder but deployed at right-back, the Portuguese was hammered by his manager in the media on one occasion but kept plugging away in his new role.
Manuel Akanji – 4.5
Nowhere near as reliable as last season in terms of availability or performance levels.
Ruben Dias – 5
Another player who struggled for form and fitness. Did belatedly find both at the end of the season and partnership with Gvardiol bodes well for next year.
John Stones – 4
Still a magnificent player but his body is letting him down.
Abdukodir Khusanov – 5
Did well to recover from a nightmarish full league debut. Has raw materials to work with, but a long way to go.
Nathan Ake – 4
Simply missed too many games.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey – 5.5
Academy prospect thrown in at the deep end. Could do with a loan to develop further.
Josko Gvardiol – 7
Put an error-strewn start to the season behind him to emerge with plenty of credit. Looked better in his preferred centre-back role.
Nico O'Reilly – 7
Made a terrific contribution and scored vital goals – particularly in the FA Cup – playing out of position at left-back. Looks ready for more minutes.
Midfielders
Ilkay Gundogan – 5
Looked shot at the start of the season and through the grim winter months but managed to finish strongly.
Mateo Kovacic – 6
Played in most of the games – the good, the bad and the ugly. At times part of the problem but deserves praise for sticking at it. Chipped in with seven goals as well.
Bernardo Silva – 6
Again a victim of his own versatility as he was asked to plug gaps week in and week out. Unsurprisingly, his creativity dimmed but earns credit for his effort and sacrifice.
Nico Gonzalez – 6
One of the more successful January signings, Nico showed flashes of his quality but was used sparingly in the closing stages of the season.
James McAtee – 5.5
Talent is there to see but not fully trusted by Guardiola. May need to look elsewhere.
Phil Foden – 4
Astonishing drop off after a stellar 2023/24. Needs to regroup over the summer and hopefully we will see the Foden of old next term.
Kevin De Bruyne – 4
World-class ability remains but has lost that change of gear that was so crucial to his impact on games. Serie A could suit him well at this stage.
Savinho – 4.5
Ultimately flattered to deceive. Ability is there but so rarely impacted games.
Jeremy Doku – 4.5
See above.
Jack Grealish – 4
Completely frozen out by Guardiola. Needs a move immediately to salvage his career.
Forwards
Omar Marmoush – 7
Thrown into a mid-season crisis, the Egyptian coped admirably and showed plenty of promise. Hopes are high he can have an even bigger impact next term.
Erling Haaland – 6.5
Started the season strongly but – like so many of his teammates – fell below his own lofty standards. Still managed 31 goals across all competitions.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More coverage from the Future Forum
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
UAE squad
Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)
FORSPOKEN
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Starfield
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The five pillars of Islam
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
WITHIN%20SAND
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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MATCH INFO
Chelsea 3 (Abraham 11', 17', 74')
Luton Town 1 (Clark 30')
Man of the match Abraham (Chelsea)
More on Quran memorisation:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
New schools in Dubai
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sunday's fixtures
- Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
- Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
The years Ramadan fell in May
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (All UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (11.30pm)
Saturday
Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
FA Augsburg v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen (6.30pm)
SC Paderborn v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Monchengladbach (9.30pm)
Sunday
Cologne v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
Mainz v FC Schalke (9pm)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
