Man City players have extra motivation during pre-season aside from impressing Pep Guardiola

The countdown is on for Manchester City's preparations for the treble defence to begin.

Five weeks after full time in Istanbul, City will reconvene on Monday for the start of pre-season training, where new signing Mateo Kovacic will join his new teammates for the first time. The Blues are still hopeful of more incoming joining Kovacic, but it seems like the new number eight will be the only addition for the time being.

There are uncertain futures over a number of other senior City players, but with nothing guaranteed in terms of outgoings, the players in question will be keen to show they can play a part for Pep Guardiola next season should they remain at the Etihad.

Fringe players like Kalvin Phillips and Sergio Gomez have gone on record to say they want to play more in 2023/24, so pre-season is a chance for them to back up those wishes, while the three weeks before the Premier League opener at Burnley are also a chance for players to prove they are worthy of being in the starting XI at Turf Moor.

ALSO READ: 'Lesson learned' - Kalvin Phillips sets record straight over 'overweight' misunderstanding with Pep Guardiola at Man City

With places to compete for and City futures on the line, pre-season could be defining for every player in the squad. Guardiola will point to the impact Rico Lewis had in the US last year in catching his eye and changing his full-back plans on the back of his pre-season performances.

As well as places in the starting XI, there is also another important role to fight for in the coming weeks.

With Ilkay Gundogan departing on the highest of highs, the City squad must elect a new captain, and also fill the fifth space in the captaincy group. Should Kyle Walker depart amid interest from Bayern