Get the biggest City stories, analysis and transfer updates delivered straight to your inbox It may be difficult to remember considering how good they've been in 2021, but Manchester City started the season terribly.
A combination of injuries, positive Covid-19 tests and a lack of time to train and rest following the end of the previous campaign left City looking fatigued and inconsistent.
A 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, which was then followed by drab draws against Manchester United and West Brom the following month, saw City in mid-table with just 19 points out of a possible 33.
Their worst return at that stage of the season since 2008. Morale in the squad was low at the turn of the year but that's when club captain Fernandinho sprung into
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