Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions this season, finishing 12 points clear at the top of the table.
Pep Guardiola won his third title in five years at the Etihad Stadium, along with a fourth successive Carabao Cup.
Their scintillating football was a sight to behold as we were locked inside, and the Citizens looked unstoppable at both ends of the pitch.
The Sky Blues also scored 126 goals in all competitions, and there were a whole host of stars who shone as East Manchester welcomed two more trophies to the cabinet.
Cross-city rivals Manchester United chased them until almost the end, but Guardiola ran away with a ninth league title in his 13-year managerial career.
(Image: Getty Images)
A record-breaking 21-game winning run from December to March was what separated them from the rest, although Chelsea brought them down to earth in both the FA Cup and Champions League.
Nevertheless, it was a season to remember for Man City, and Mirror Football is here to run the rule over their players’ performances* in 2020-21.
*Those who made less than five appearances across the Citizens’ 61 games in all competitions will not be rated.
Ederson
Winning the Premier League Golden Glove with 19 clean sheets, City’s Brazilian stopper was a calming presence as ever behind the rotating back line, and had the fewest average saves to make per-match in the division.
One assist is probably par for the course in Ederson’s repertoire, and the 27-year-old looks set to be between the Etihad posts for years to come – unless Scott Carson has anything to say about it.
8/10
Zack Steffen
It must be a difficult task playing second fiddle to one of the world’s best goalkeepers, but Steffen seems more than capable whenever called upon.
Claiming the Carabao Cup run, the USA international can be pleased with his progression after injury ended his loan spell with Fortuna Dusseldorf early last term.
7/10
Joao Cancelo
(Image: PA)
Evidently needing an initial year in England to settle, the versatile Portuguese full-back has been a force this campaign in a number of positions.
Cancelo’s three goals and five assists were the cherry on top of some seriously impressive underlying statistics, becoming pivotal in City’s build-up play.
Now up there with the world’s best in his position, those who doubted him will only be in awe now.
8.5/10
Kyle Walker
One of the senior Citizens in the squad, the England right-back has once again shown his class this season.
42 starts proved that he was still a key cog in City’s machine, as he provided just one assist but bagged two goals.
7.5/10
Ruben Dias
Undoubtedly the signing of the season, Premier League Player of the Year nominee Dias’ price of £65m now looks like a snip.
Mirroring Virgil van Dijk’s impact at Liverpool, the former Benfica man, 24, almost single-handedly reassured Guardiola’s back line, proving to be a worthy heir to Vincent Kompany.
His range of passing complements his no-nonsense defensive approach, helping the Citizens concede just 32 league goals over 38 top-flight games.
9.5/10
John Stones
12 months ago, Stones’ time as a City player seemed to be up.
Fast forward one year and the Yorkshire native appears near indispensable for the Premier League champions, forming a formidable partnership with Dias.
Stones even bagged five goals as he became a Fantasy Football favourite, also racking up the best points-per-game average (2.6) of any senior outfielder in the Sky Blues squad.
8.5/10
Aymeric Laporte
(Image: PA)
Previously first-choice whenever fit, the recently-converted Spain international has become more of a squad player for Guardiola.
Laporte’s left foot and swagger on the ball will no-doubt keep him at the club, and his winner in the Carabao Cup final is arguably his most memorable moment in a sky blue shirt so far.
7/10
Nathan Ake
Swiftly signed upon Bournemouth ’s relegation last year, Ake would have been hoping for more than 13 appearances this term.
Firmly fourth-choice, the Dutch defender never asserted himself in the starting XI when he was fit, as he missed 27 matches through injury.
5/10
Eric Garcia
Having just left the club to rejoin Barcelona this week, 20-year-old Garcia was never going to become a mainstay this season due to the impending move.
Technically gifted, he is expected to be Gerard Pique’s long-term replacement at the Camp Nou, and has swapped the Northern Quarter for Gothic one.
5/10
Oleksander Zinchenko
(Image: Pool via REUTERS)
Left-back is widely regarded as the Citizens’ weak link, but year after year, Zinechenko fills in admirably.
The Ukranian did so on 32 occasions this time around, including in the Champions League final, and can hold his head high due to the fact his natural position remains in central midfield.
Most notably, the 24-year-old played the vast majority of minutes in a run which saw City concede just one goal in eight games during January and February.
6.5/10
Benjamin Mendy
On the opposite end of the spectrum to Zinchenko, a relatively injury-free Mendy once again failed to make himself a staple of Guardiola’s side during the hectic term.
20 starts – 12 less than the makeshift defender – showed his manager’s lack of faith, and time is running out for him to make his £52m fee in 2017 look a worthwhile investment.
5.5/10
Rodri
Leading the appearance charts with 53 outings, the Spanish midfield conductor was consistently excellent this campaign.
Keeping the Citizens ticking over, his attacking contribution of two goals and five assists was surplus to superb middle-third play.
Rodri is a fine example of someone who lacks the bells and whistles, but makes up for it with supreme intelligence.
8/10
Fernandinho
Still one of City’s most important players thanks to outstanding nous and seemingly boasting the ability to avoid being booked for tactical fouls, Fernandinho is what every team needs.
Working both hard and smart, the 36-year-old managed 36 appearances in 20-21 and looks to be staying in Manchester for another year, something which will please the Etihad faithful to no end.
His sweet strike to seal a win over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup semi-final helped keep him remain a firm fan favourite, too.
7.5/10
Ilkay Gundogan
(Image: PA)
Who would have had this man as the Citizens’ top goalscorer before the season started?
Gundogan netted 13 goals in 28 top-flight games, notching in four more strikes in the FA Cup and Champions League, as well as laying on a total of five assists.
Thriving in a more advanced role, the German has gone from peripheral figure to midfield mainstay this term.
8.5/10
Bernardo Silva
Having seemingly lost his magic last term, now the only Silva at the club ranked ninth for minutes played across the trophy-laden campaign.
Buzzing around out wide or in the centre, the Portugal international’s work rate adds to top technique and eye for a pass, all on show in his 45 appearances which contained 14 direct goal contributions.
An underrated gem in a team of stars, Bernardo remains crucial to the East Manchester outfit.
7.5/10
Kevin De Bruyne
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
On the other hand to Gundogan, there would not be much of a prize for guessing who would top the assist charts for City this campaign.
De Bruyne’s 18 lay-ons in all competitions – with 10 goals to boot – were the impetus in Guardiola’s side; spellbinding displays and gasp-worthy passes were littered throughout his season, as the Belgian affirmed his place among the best midfielders the Premier League has ever seen.
Sadly, we might not be able to enjoy KDB at this summer’s European Championships due to a facial injury picked up in Porto last weekend.
9/10
Riyad Mahrez
Admittedly, it’s hard to stand out in a campaign like City’s most recent one, but Mahrez managed to on multiple occasions.
14 goals and nine assists may not match his 19-20 tally of 29 direct goal contributions, but his form in the early part of the calendar year saw him earn the club’s Player of the Month award for their rampant February.
At 30 and nearing the twilight of his career, the Algerian has certainly made the most of his best years.
8.5/10
Phil Foden
(Image: Manchester City FC via Getty Ima)
Having waited patiently on the bench for three seasons, Foden made the joint-second-most appearances of any Citizen this past season.
The English star was the only man to be included in all 61 matchday squads, and his shining display at Liverpool in February was a demonstration of his immense talent, as he contributed to his 16 goals and 10 assists tallied over the course of the term.
At just 21 years of age, the sky really is the limit for him.
9/10
Ferran Torres
Not blowing the doors down upon his arrival, the Valencia youth product has somewhat quietly scored 13 goals in his maiden campaign.
Torres’ versatility helped him feature 36 times, and the 21-year-old showed exciting signs in the more low-key matches – like the hat-trick he hit at Newcastle in City’s penultimate away league match.
Likely to explode at some point over the next few seasons, he could become a regular soon.
7/10
Raheem Sterling
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A fairly average term for his high standards, Sterling was often named Sky Blues skipper during a campaign in which he netted 14 strikes and laid on 12 lassists.
The Citizens’ second-highest Premier League goalscorer was left out of numerous XIs towards the end of the season but at only 26, he has plenty of time to make those minutes up.
8/10
Gabriel Jesus
Although a victim of Guardiola’s decision often go without a recognised striker, Jesus still racked up 42 appearances in 20-21.
His 14 goals were an unspectacular tally and his manager still seems unwilling to truly trust him in the pressure moments.
There is work to be done yet for the no. 9.
7/10
Sergio Aguero
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A legend at the Etihad, Aguero’s final term in Manchester was not what the perfect last hurrah he would have hoped for.
Although the Argentine lifted his own fifth Premier League trophy, the European defeat was a sour note to end on as he follows Garcia to Barcelona.
20 appearances in an injury-hit campaign contained just six goals -two of which were from the bench on the final day – but Aguero will always have the most famous strike of all.
6/10
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