Reigning champions City have started the new campaign in formidable fashion and are one of only two sides left with a 100% record in the Premier League after the first three games.
That’s been achieved thanks to superb victories over Chelsea, Ipswich Town and West Ham United, with two of those wins also coming on the road.
Narrowing the choice down to just three nominees has proved a tough task but it’s Erling Haaland, Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis who have made August’s shortlist.
Erling Haaland
The Premier League’s golden boot winner for the past two seasons, City’s Norwegian strike sensation has, if anything, hit even greater heights so far this term.
Haaland began the 2024/25 league season by scoring the first goal in City’s fine 2-0 win at Chelsea – a suitable way to celebrate his 100th appearance for the Club.
The 24-year-old then marked our first home game of the season at home to Ipswich in trademark lethal fashion.
Haaland despatched a clinically taken hat-trick to register the 10th treble of his City career and help Pep Guardiola’s side overcome the Premier League new boys 4-1.
By way of an encore, Haaland then went one better last weekend, recording a back-to-back hat-trick away at West Ham to fire the champions to a hugely impressive 3-1 win at the London Stadium.
It took his overall tally to seven goals for the seasons so far, made it 11 City hat-tricks and 24 career trebles and also meant he has now scored 70 goals in 69 Premier League appearances and 97 goals for the Club in total since he joined us from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022.
Will you pick Erling as your August Player of the Month?
Mateo Kovacic
With Rodrigo afforded an extended break in the wake of his EURO 2024 exploits with victors Spain, Kovacic has assumed the key holding midfield role so far this term.
It’s safe to say the Croatian has been quite magnificent across the three games to date, marrying his in-game intelligence, terrific technique alongside power and panache to formidable effect.
Kovacic also weighed in with a stunning strike to seal that fine opening day victory at Chelsea on what proved a memorable return to his former club.
Though he was forced off with a knock early in the second half of our Ipswich win, Kovacic recovered to start last Saturday’s trip to West Ham.
And he was again an outstanding presence at the heart of the City engine room, giving another midfield masterclass to help the reigning champions maintain our perfect start to the season.
Is Mateo your August Player of the Month?
Rico Lewis
The teenage defender has figured in all three of City’s Premier League games so far and once again provided compelling evidence of his outstanding talent, superb application and tactical flexibility.
Operating either at right back or by being pushed further forward as an inverted full back, Lewis has been at the heart of so much that has been good about City over August.
Whether providing a further attacking outlet when pressing forward, adding an extra layer of solidity and fluidity to the midfield or anchoring the defence with his calm, composed approach to the game, the 19-year-old has been outstanding.
His brilliant form was also recognised by interim England head coach Lee Carsley who called the teenager up for the Three Lions’ September Nations League fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Does Rico get the nod for you in our August vote?
So, who will you vote for?
The poll is open now and you can cast your vote below. We will announce the winner on Friday of this week.
Kick-off time altered for City’s Premier League trip to Wolves
The visit to Molineux – which will be televised live on Sky Sports – will still take place on Sunday, October 20 but will now get underway at 14.00pm (BST) rather than 16.30pm.
Kick-off time for the game has been brought forward because of the participation of Arsenal in the Champions League the following Tuesday and the movement of the Liverpool v Chelsea league fixture to 16.30pm on Sunday, October 20, from its original 17.30pm time on Saturday, October 19.
Arsenal’s trip to AFC Bournemouth, which was originally slated for 14.00pm on Sunday, October 20, has now been moved to 17.30pm on Saturday, October 19.
Broady confident Manchester crowd will be in full voice at Davis Cup
Naomi Broady, a professional tennis player and also a big Manchester City fan, will be the Master of Ceremonies (MC’ing) for the 2024 Davis Cup at the AO Arena, in her hometown.
It’s the second successive year Manchester has played host to the tennis competition and this time around, Great Britain, Argentina, Finland and Canada are all competing in the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage.
Broady has not had the chance to partake in a competition, such as the Davis Cup, in Manchester but it is an opportunity she would grab with both hands if given the chance. But she is thankful that she gets to help in the production of the competition that is just around the corner from where she grew up.
And, when speaking to Manchester City at Club de Padel, the tennis pro said she is super excited for the Great Britain team who are competing and the Manchester love they will receive while on court.
“Manchester means a lot to me,” began Broady. “I played in a small grass court event pre Wimbledon here in Manchester when I was younger and it was just so special, my friends and family got to come and watch but it wasn’t anywhere near the sort of scale the Davis Cup is.
“It’s still a home tie for the Great Britain team so even if the players aren’t from Manchester, they’ll still consider it a home tie. And people will be travelling from all over to come watch.
“A lot of people are coming from Scotland, a lot of people travelling from London, all corners of Great Britain come to support the players and it will be great to see locals here too.
“Being from Manchester it makes you feel a bit more proud. And last year was a record crowd for any Great Britain Davis Cup tie in Great Britain which was a sellout crowd of 13,000. So it was so cool that Manchester was the city that turned up and showed out for the team and got to make that record.”
The Davis Cup will begin on Tuesday 10 September and will run until Sunday 15 September. For information on the schedule and to buy tickets
It is the first time Great Britain will be competing since Andy Murray retired following the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
But Broady was able to provide her expert insight into this year’s team and why the crowd will play a big part in the competition.
“Tickets start from £5 for children and £10 for adults, it’s dead cheap,” said Broady. “It runs all day so even if you’re at work in the city centre you can pop along after work with your friends for £10 and catch the end of the day tennis.
“And the doubles is often the decider so you’re going to come in at the most climatic moment. And if you’re Canadian, from Finland or Argentinian, even if you’re not and those are the teams that are playing that day, put your colours on and come and represent that country because the players will be pointing up to you, pointing you out, they’ll be fist pumping towards you, they want that support.
“In terms of the Great Britain team, Andy’s [Murray] legacy has basically created the team you will watch at the Davis Cup. So his leading by example, work ethic, discipline, his sacrifices, everything that he has given to tennis he has also shared with the players around him.
“And it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s supporting court side throughout the week.
“He retired at the Olympics because he wanted that shirt on his back and it was some of his proudest moments in his career, playing for Great Britain.
“Dan Evans, one of Great Britain’s players, has not has the results he maybe would have wanted in the past year but his best tennis has come at the Davis Cup and at the Olympics, representing Great Britain.
“Jack Draper’s debut at the Davis Cup last year as well and what a trajectory he’s been on since. He’s not at a career high, he’s kissing the shirt during his matches and all the players just speak on what a special feeling it is, you’re playing for something bigger than yourself.
“Like with football your name is on the back of your shirt but you’re not playing for yourself, you’re playing for the team,” Broady continued.
“And as an individual sport you don’t get to do that normally, that’s why we refer to the Davis Cup as the World Cup of tennis.
“So I think the players just step up and play their best tennis and leave absolutely everything out there.
“And the passion and noise from the crowd is vital to that and is what makes the Davis Cup so bespoke compared to all other tennis tournaments.”
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