Man City most likely of big three to end season trophyless

Theoretically it should be a period of transition at the three Premier League clubs many will seem most likely to be contending for silverware this season, but it is unlikely that trophies will be added to the cabinets of all of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea next May.

It is certainly intriguing that all three clubs are individually priced at 10/11 to end next season trophyless and examples are fairly rare in the Premier League era of the big three of that time all collecting silverware.

2003 is arguably one such example as the Premier League’s top-three finishers from the previous season all scooped a domestic honour each, with Man Utd winning Premier League title number 15, Arsenal beating Southampton to lift the FA Cup and Liverpool taking the League Cup.

The 2005/06 season is another open to debate, with Chelsea this time winning the league, Man Utd the League Cup and Liverpool securing the FA Cup. There are certainly grounds to say that Liverpool were the third most likely to win a trophy in this season after their Champions League exploits in the previous campaign.

However, even though next season’s big three also have the opportunity to lift European silverware, there is every reason to believe that at least one will end the season empty handed.

Man City were the absentees on top of the podium this season and even with Roberto Mancini ousted, it is debatably them that look most likely to end up trophyless again.

Many will point to David Moyes’ lack of trophies as a concern for Manchester United, but if Man City do appoint Manuel Pellegrini, his drought for silverware is almost as long, dating back a decade, and this is despite a season at Real Madrid.

Furthermore, there will be less pressure on Moyes to succeed instantly than there will be with Pellegrini from the Man City board and possibly from supporters, who were predominantly in favour of former boss Mancini.

The fact that Pellegrini has no Premier League experience must additionally be regarded as a negative, while his two new signings Jesus Navas and Fernandinho are in the same boat.

Meanwhile, Pellegrini is likely to bring about the biggest changes in formation, which will not only mean the new players adapting to English life, but a whole squad becoming accustomed to a new style of football, which could take time.

Given that Chelsea went without trophies in 2008 and 2011, a continuation of this three-year sequence would suggest that next season would be another without silverware.

But the promise of money to spend, alongside the appointment of a manager in Jose Mourinho that knows the club well and how to win trophies in England gives the impression that Chelsea will win something this season.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.