Man City uses data-driven scouting to reshape squad after 2023 Treble
· Sports · BBC Sport
Manchester City’s data department has overhauled the squad since winning the Treble in 2023, retaining only four players from that title-winning team. The club analyses player potential through a framework identifying talent, evaluating performance, and projecting improvement under Pep Guardiola’s system. While data helps reduce risk in transfers, sporting director Hugo Viana emphasized it remains secondary to traditional scouting in decision-making. City’s approach reflects a broader Premier League trend of clubs integrating analytics into recruitment and performance monitoring. Last season, their models correctly predicted Arsenal as title favourites despite internal projections of competitiveness. This season, five wins from five Premier League games have renewed expectations of a title challenge.
Why it matters
The story highlights how elite football clubs are increasingly relying on data to inform transfer strategies while balancing it with human judgment. For Manchester City, this method aims to sustain competitiveness in the Premier League and Champions League by identifying undervalued or high-potential signings.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
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