The 2022/23 season is upon us, and with the World Cup being staged this winter in Qatar, it’s going to be a particularly long one.
But with that said, more football means more opportunities for the best to somehow get better, for legends to be created and for teams to rule the footballing world.
Manchester City
Manchester City have gone into every season in the Pep Guardiola era expecting to rule the world, and that’s with good reason.
The Catalan coach has at this point created several versions of a team befitting of legendary status, but with Erling Haaland through the Etihad Stadium doors, this could yet be their most formidable team yet.
With the frightening Norwegian leading the line, this is City’s best chance of dominating Europe and finally winning the Champions League.
Barcelona
A year is a long time in football. This time last summer, Barcelona fans were dreading the new season after losing Lionel Messi on a free and the almost universally unpopular Ronald Koeman still in the dugout.
Legendary former midfielder Xavi took over with Barca ninth in La Liga, but managed to drastically improve results and performances with a makeshift team over the remainder of the season.
Club president Joan Laporta has mortgaged the club’s future to bring in players in Xavi’s vision to help them win now. With Robert Lewandowski leading the line, this gamble in the short-term might just pay off.
Bayern Munich
First of all, congratulations to Bayern Munich on winning the 2022/23 Bundesliga – despite the sloppy start they’ve made under Julian Nagelsmann.
Die Roten have gone big in the transfer market to continue their evolution. Sadio Mane may not have been signed as a Lewandowski replacement but he adds another dimension to their attack, while Matthijs de Ligt may finally fulfil his lofty potential in Bavaria.
Fresher faces and new strengths mean that Bayern should be a major force in Europe again, and it’s pretty inconceivable at this point not to envision that.
Inter
Simone Inzaghi inherited a role at a club in a bit of financial bother and with Antonio Conte’s big shoes to fill last summer, but he’s a pretty good job so far.
The Nerazzurri have welcomed back Romelu Lukaku – who surely would have fired them to Serie A glory if he didn’t leave for Chelsea last year – and gave Liverpool a good scare in the Champions League. Inter have all the tools needed to become a dominant team once again.
LAFC
Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale signed for them earlier this summer, helping the club step out of the shadows of the big brother LA Galaxy.
A dominant MLS side, the newly dominant team in one of the world’s biggest cities, two global superstars and a unique colour scheme to boot – LAFC are flying high.
Real Madrid
2022/23 looks set to be no different, with a blistering start to the season under Carlo Ancelotti putting every team in Spain and around Europe on notice – Los Blancos mean business.
Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior are the jewels in the Italian’s crown, but the shrewd summer signings of Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger could be the difference as they look to conquer once more.
