Manchester City are clearly backing Pep Guardiola all the way…which if nothing else gives the Spaniard no more excuses this coming season.

Guardiola arrived last summer and in my opinion did very little to enhance the weak errors within the team – i.e – the defence.

It become clear they would not challenge for the title, they bowed out of the Champions League to Monaco in disappointing fashion and he got some major player calls wrong.

The fact he brought in Claudio Bravo to replace Joe Hart, made him look silly, the way in which he dropped Sergio Aguero, was that right? Although you could argue the way in which he dealt with Yaya Toure was admirable.

But let’s put last season behind us, the good and mainly bad…this summer is the most important time for Pep Guardiola.

And City’s hierarchy have done what has been asked. A new goalkeeper in Ederson, some extra attacking flair in Bernardo Silva – both very good signings.

Guardiola, though, new that City’s weakest area was full-back and whilst many have questioned the plus £100million spent on Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy – I can see exactly why he has done, indeed the fact he wants another left-back is not a shock.

Guardiola is now starting to get towards the squad he wants – and that is key, you got the feeling too many times last season that the Spaniard was struggling to get his head around his lack of options.

The likes of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho coped better in their first full seasons due to having much more quality in depth, and now Guardiola is getting to that position.

But let’s not forget, Guardiola came into City being considered as the best coach in the world – and the only thing of significance that happened in his first season in Manchester was a denting to reputation.

And yes whilst Pep does have no excuses – there is a different feeling about City this pre-season, to me they look and feel like a different animal, they finally look like a Pep team – they feel like one when watching them which was not always the case last season…for me they are the team to beat next season.

Yes they need another centre-half, but I believe that will come and then the Premier League title will follow…