5 players who are proving Guardiola's critics wrong this season

Very few managers polarise fans of the game to the extent that Pep Guardiola does. There are plenty of fans that admire his management style, and there are some who believe that he is a tad overrated. While it is true that Pep has coached established clubs, it is quite obvious that his sides play a brand of football that several fans find breathtaking.

The 2016-17 season wasn't the best for Pep, and while City did play well in patches, the team failed to achieve its goals. This season, however, has seen renewed vigour in the side, and with younger blood flowing through its veins, the team seems like a force to reckon with.

A common point of criticism of the Guardiola way is that his success and style is facilitated by massive sums of money. He was heavily criticised for spending a whopping £133m on Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy.

While it may be true that Guardiola has made full use of the monetary resources available at the club, there have also been improvements among several players who were previously either unknown or thought to be a waste of money.

It is these players that have been instrumental in Manchester City's scintillating form. In what is turning out to be the start of a promising period for the club, every successful performance by these players further justifies their illustrious coach's methods.

Players like David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero have excelled at their roles, but fans were already aware of their full potential and capabilities at the start of the season.

#5 Raheem Sterling

The fleet-footed attacker has been a man reborn this season

Purchased in 2015 from Liverpool, a lot was expected from Sterling in his first season at Manchester City. The young forward, however, buckled under the weight of expectation and failed to make a mark when played during the campaign.

He soon found himself out of Manuel Pellegrini's lineup and was considered by fans as the worst signing of the season.

Under Pep Guardiola, however, Sterling has undergone a transformation and is seeming an improvement even over the Sterling of Liverpool.

Playing in an advanced and freer role, Sterling has been one of the top performers this season, scoring 7 goals so far, and is second only to Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane in the Premier League scoring charts.

“He's been a massive help, but not just for me, but the other players as well, the whole team," said Sterling, on Guardiola's role in his resurgence. Sterling has quickly gone from being an expensive failure to being one of the current side's crown jewels, and will also be crucial to Manchester City's Champions League dreams this season.

Sterling has also successfully nailed down a place in England's national team and will play an important role in World Cup 2018. The 23-year-old will be crucial to Manchester City's plans for world dominance in the next few years.

#4 Ederson Moraes

Ederson has been a breath of fresh air and his displays have added confidence to the City backline

For all the adulation and well wishes Pep Guardiola received from fans when he joined Manchester City, his relationship with fan favourite Joe Hart did draw quite a bit of flak from the fanbase. Guardiola simply did not have faith in Hart's passing ability, and his insistence on following his philosophy of football directly resulted in Hart's departure from the club.

This did not and well for the manager, with Claudio Bravo and Willy Caballero unable to fully fill the Englishman's shoes.

Claudio Bravo's first season in England was uncharacteristically filled with blunders, and this cost the club several points over the course of the campaign.

This season, however, the club have found an excellent goalkeeper in Ederson. Acquired from Benfica in the summer transfer window, the 23-year-old has had an incredible start to life at the Etihad, keeping 6 clean sheets so far and making some exceptional saves. His ball distribution is also to Guardiola's liking, and he has therefore won the support of both his manager and the fanbase.

The Brazilian shot stopper's performances have earned him a few call-ups in the national team, and he could well feature in the World Cup for the Selecao. Can Ederson be Manchester City's first choice keeper in the long term? Pep Guardiola certainly seems to think so.

#3 Nicolas Otamendi

The Argentine has been less erratic and more reliable this season

Nicolas Otamendi's career has been one of several ups and downs.The oldest player on this list at 29 years of age, Otamendi has often been considered not good enough for a club of Manchester City's stature and ambition and has often had to play second fiddle to captain Vincent Kompany.

With Kompany injured this season, Otamendi has become a regular starter at the club ahead of Eliaquim Mangala and has exceeded expectations so far. The often error-prone center back has been surprisingly solid and dependable alongside a talented John Stones. Together, they have successfully formed a stable partnership at the back, something that Manchester City haven't had in over 5 years.

Pep Guardiola certainly has an interesting decision to make when Kompany returns from injury. Under the Catalan coach, Otamendi has shown marked improvement in positioning as well as passing, skills which haven't necessarily been his strongest assets in the past. Under Pep, the Argentine has revived his flailing career and has certainly become a force to reckon with.

Argentina's national team isn't very well known for their defence, but on current form, Otamendi walks right into the first team. Strong in the air and a physical presence at the back, Nicolas Otamendi has become a valuable asset to both club and country.

#2 Gabriel Jesus

‘Alô Mãe; the young Brazilian star has become an even better player this season

The second Brazilian on this list, Gabriel Jesus has been an absolute revelation this season. Jesus moved to Manchester City from Palmeiras in January 2017, for a fee of £27m pounds.

Given his recent performances and the current transfer market, this particular transfer has been one of the best bargains of the Pep Guardiola era.

Jesus showed plenty of promise in the second half of the 2016-17 season, despite playing second fiddle to the club's modern day legend, Sergio Aguero. In the limited time that was given to him, Jesus scored 7 goals across 11 appearances.

This season, however, has been a breakthrough season for the young Brazilian. He has already scored 7 goals in the Premier League and is only one goal behind his Argentine teammate. Jesus has also shown that he is not only capable of scoring goals but also providing them as he has set up his teammates on multiple occasions and created several chances.

Jesus has also been a regular starter for Brazil in the past couple of months, and is nearly sure to be picked for the World Cup 2018. In the brief absence of Aguero, the 20 year old showed the maturity and poise required to be the club's leading striker, and is all set to be Manchester City's talisman in the coming years.

#1 Leroy Sane

The flying German has been quick off the mark this season

Speed merchants have always been an integral part of the Premier League, and Leroy Sane is currently one of the best in that category. The German exceeded expectations in the second half of the previous season and has been consistently building on that form and momentum this season as well.

In a side filled with passing and creative brilliance, Sane adds an interesting new dimension. His primary weapon is his searing pace, accompanied by a deadly shot from distance and excellent finishing technique. He has also improved his positioning this season and has developed an excellent relationship with assist king Kevin de Bruyne.

At Schalke, Leroy Sane was considered a bright talent and was earmarked for success in the future. Under Guardiola, however, he has developed into a machine, scoring and creating chances seemingly at will. The winger has already scored 6 goals and assisted 5 in the Premier League so far, and has shown no signs of slowing down.

At only 21 years of age, Leroy Sane is considered by many as the future of the current Manchester City team. He has also earned himself a spot in a German national team packed with talent in all departments. With consistent improvement in every game and an excellent mentor in Pep Guardiola, Sane's capabilities know no limits.