After a season when they tore up the English football record books and topped 100 points Manchester City are now heading into uncharted territory again.
Sitting nicely on the shoulder of Liverpool in the Premier League title race, they are also in the Champions League quarter-finals, the FA Cup semi-finals and already have the Carabao Cup in the cabinet.
But with storm clouds on the horizon due to investigations by various football bodies, and worrying injury problems to key players, can the Blues really achieve more glory this season?
We've been asking fans following us on Twitter @ManCityMEN and on our Man City Facebook page to fire over their burning questions about the club, and we're going to answer some of them here today.
Chief City writer Stuart Brennan answered fans' questions below.
The BIG question
Thanks for the questions, we wrap it up with the Mancunian Conundrum, the greatest scientific question of our time, from The Bertieful South:
Stu, muffin or barm?
Stu says: Barm. No argument. A muffin is either a cake, or a criminal offence. Here endeth the discussion.
How is Leroy?
Xalifyanji says:
How is Leroy Sane after such horrible tackle?
Stu says: Thankfully, OK. He has stayed with the Germany squad. He is lucky that his studs weren’t planted and that he is so young and supple, as it was a disgraceful, leg-breaking challenge. I think Leroy will have a big influence on the closing stages of the season.
Going to Madrid?
Stogie M Maseko asks:
How far does Stuart think City will go in this season’s Champions League?
Stu says: I would back City to beat Spurs but think Juventus - if they get past a surprisingly good Ajax - will be a tough obstacle in the semis. If they keep players fit I would back City to reach the final - and an emotional one for Pep against Barcelona!
Jesus or God?
Craig Yates asks:
Can Jesus seriously replace Sergio one day?
Stu says: It’s a huge ask. But you have to remember Jesus is still only 21, two years younger than Kun was when he joined the club. He is already Brazil’s number nine and has huge potential - much depends on how he learns to cope with setbacks such as injury, loss of form and having to fight for his place. He has the ability to become a City legend, now he has to prove he has the mentality.
Pep's first XI
Huzefa Zoher Ali asks
What will be the starting XI of City if all players are fit and running?
Stu says: Good question, and one Pep would never answer, s i depends on opposition, form and other factors. But if I was to pick City’s best XI when all fit and in form, it would read: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Mendy; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, D. Silva; Bernardo, Aguero, Sterling
Philippe flop?
Max Elmer asks:
Will Sandler and Douglas Luiz become regulars in the first team next season?
Stu says: Both have a long way to go. Luiz is doing OK at Girona, but OK is not good enough for him to step into Ferna’s boots. Sandler has impressed when he has had a chance this season but, again, the gulf between him and the current centre backs is a big one. Any transfer ban could be a blessing for his City career!
German deals
Mohammedi Salumu asks:
Recently Man City renewed contracts to Ederson, Laporte, Bernardo, Mangala and Jesus. What about Sane and Gundogan?
Stu says: Sane I dealt with earlier, but City are quietly confident. Gundogan is different as this could be his last big deal and he has to make sure he gets it right. He will get more opportunities as David Silva winds down, but he is playing a canny game of making himself invaluable and playing a waiting game which will bump up his worth to the club. I would be less sure of Gundogan committing himself but I reckon he will come to a deal after a drawn-out negotiation
Future star
Kevin Asiago asks
Is there an academy player who will be promoted to first team and if any what sort of convincing are we going to give that it will be the right move given the success of the defaulters
A lot of people are drooling over attacking midfielder Felix Nmecha, who made his first team debut at Burton in January, but is making serious strides forward in his development. At this rate he will be promoted to the first team squad, while Ian Poveda also has a fighting chance. Eric Garcia is the other player who should take a step forward next season, especially if Kompany’s body continues to let him down.
Pep's future
Omphemetse Moroka asks
Do you think that Pep Guardiola will stay beyond his contract at City ?
Stu says: I suspect Pep doesn’t know the answer to that question! He is already contracted to stay longer at City than he did at Bayern or Barca, but that could change. Just enjoy it while it lasts!
Uefa clobbering
Julie Walsh asks:
Do you think UEFA are going to punish us , and can they use stolen info against us? Hope not
and John Kelly asks:
What are the likely outcomes of all of the investigations?
Stu says: We simply don’t know at this stage. Uefa, Fifa, the FA and Premier League are all setting quite dangerous precedents if they charge City based on what appear to be hacked or stolen emails. City have remained silent other than one banal statement, but their position seems to be that they have already given the authorities all of the information they have - there is no more to be had.
If charges do come out of this, there could be a legal challenge from the club.
For more on why Uefa and the rest are playing with fire, read this: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-ffp-investigations-inquiry-15974279
Summer transfer plans
Mark Wray asks:
How many players in the next transfer window do we actually need?
Stu says: I asked chief executive Ferran Soriano about summer transfer plans a couple of weeks ago, and he was cagey, as you would expect, telling me “You know our squad, it’s very good. It’ll need adjustments but not a revolution. I’m sure there will be some exciting new players coming.”
Clearly another defensive midfielder is needed, and a left back, but beyond that, I reckon City could cope with what they have.
We want KDB
Dave Richardson asks:
What is going on with De Bruyne, seems to be injured a lot?
And Dahir Aydiid Mohamud asks:
When will Kevin De Bruyne come back from injury?
Stu says: The schedule is for De Bruyne to return after the international break. He tweaked a hamstring, which is not unusual when you are on the way back from serious injuries. He’s had a tough time of it this season but in the last couple of months we have seen glimpses of exactly what he brings to the Blues. He could be a huge bonus for the closing stages of the season.
Sell, sell, sell!
Carole Howe asks:
Can’t we sell all the players we don’t use bring in the young players let Pep get them in shape and train them to be magnificent players?
Stu says: There are not many players Pep doesn’t use - maybe only Mangala and the youngsters, whose time will come. Mangala will go if anyone comes in for him this summer, but any transfer ban would complicate things and require a re-think of how they handle it.
Erique Kun asks:
Can Sergio Aguero break Alan Shearer’ s Premier League all time top scorer record?
I’m a big fan of Sergio and I want him to achieve the best of football
Stu says: He would need exactly 100 goals to do that, which would be some achievement. With another couple of years left on is current deal, that is virtually impossible. But if he stays beyond that, who knows?
Sancho return
Siphesihle Isipho Cenge asks:
Do we have a buy back clause for Jadon Sancho?
Stu says: You do, but I would be very surprised if it was ever enacted. I sense there was some bad blood with Pep when he left, and you get the feeling neither is too keen to work with the other - but you never say never in football.
Quad quiz
Panashe Mudhara asks
How are we going to deal with this busy April schedule because we play Spurs three times in April? I think we got a game every three days, considering the uncertainty surrounding Kevin de Bruyne, Mendy and Fernandinho, how do you see Pep dealing with such a difficult situation in pursuit of the quadruple?
while Robbie Power adds:
Do Man City have a chance of winning the quadruple?
Stu says: To be honest, you cannot pull off feats like the Quad without a good deal of luck. City have had some good fortune, in the shape of favourable draws in the cup competitions, but they really need to get their full squad back and have no further problems until the end of the season. That way, they could rotate without losing quality.
With any further injury problems I think it will be nigh impossible, as I said here:
Academy, academy, academy
Sqeda Chiliza asks:
We have such great talent in our academy, but why are we selling rather than grooming? We shouldn’t have bought Mahrez because we had Jadon Sancho and we need to buy two defensive midfielders a quality defensive player and a young player who Guardiola can groom into the next Fernandinho
Stu says: To be fair to City, there was no real option when it came to Sancho and Brahim. It’s football, not slavery, and if a player wants to leave there is very little you can do. Mahrez came a year after Sancho had gone. The next Fernandinho is absolutely key and while there are good kids coming through, the short-term solution has to be a move in the market.
Here’s more on why City had to sell Sancho
Capital question
Pete Garside asks:
What’s the capital of Peru?
Stu says: I was hoping for a capital city - my speciality. It’s Lima, I reckon.
Saul survivor
Samson Mbewe asks
Instead of Saul, why not go for Rabiot?
Stu says: There has been plenty of agent talk that Barcelona are in for Rabiot, but I am sure he will be on City’s list, along with Ndombele, Neves, Rice and one or two others
Another Ziinch role?
Kevin Asiago asks
The new Mr Versatile Zinchenko said to have played a holding midfield role, is there any chance he could be called as Ferna cover in case Gundogan decides to leave, we get a ban and Douglas Luiz still can’t get the permit?
Stu says: I’m not aware of Zinchenko playing the holding role - he has always been a left-sided/attacking midfielder, but I am willing to be corrected. I don;t see him in that role, but pep i full of surprises. Danilo can do it if City need a stronger defensive presence - Gundogan has been excellent but City have been on the front foot in every game he has played there, so his defensive qualities have not been tested. Luiz still has to prove himself, but any ban could be a chance for him, along with Matt Smith.
Give 'em a break
N’lalitsebo Joseph Sianga asks
Can’t City withdraw Sane and Raheem from international duty?
Stu says: No. Fifa rules don’t allow it for competitive games unless the player is injured. Even then, the respective FAs could demand that the player attends a medical examination - that has happened to Wilfried Zaha, who has to fly to Ivory Coast and back for that very reason.
Set Sergio in stone
Bikram Lansal asks
Will Manchester City build Sergio Aguero statue after he retires?
Stu says: If anyone deserves one, it is Kun, along with David Silva, Vincent Kompany and probably Zaba. They might have to clear some space in east Manchester for all the statues in years to some - not forgetting players from the past like Bell, Lee and Summerbee
Europe or bust?
Sean Riley asks
Premier League, or Champions League? If you had to pick one?
Stu says: Speaking selfishly, the Champions League, as the European away trips are more fun than going to Crystal Palace! But seriously, I think back-to-back league titles will answer any doubts about this team’s place in he pantheon of great English sides nd prove last season was not just a freak. Whichever way it goes, I know you’ll be at every game, Sean!
Any young Fernandinhos?
Mark Garrett asks
Will further young players be drafted into the squad especially in defensive midfield if we are banned from transfers in the summer and January 2020?
Stu says: This could be a positive to come from any transfer ban - it will give young players more opportunities. Douglas Luiz and Matt Smith have some way to go to challenge the excellent Fernandinho but they are heading in the right direction. Then there is Tommy Doyle is making waves in the youth team. I wrote this about players who might benefit from any ban:
Ticket scandals!
RENT FREE BLUES asks
Should the club subsidise City fans for their trip to Wembley for the semi-Final of the FA Cup? And have you seen the prices they are charging for the Spurs home leg!
Stu says: That’s a matter for the club, but ticket prices are outrageous. I wouldn’t be surprised if City fans kept their money in their wallets for the semi-final, saved up for bigger games ahead.
It is also another bad facet of FFP that it forces high ticket prices. City’s owners could afford to subsidise tickets but if they do so it will count as part of their spending - so they have to be careful, and to charge the market price for tickets.
De Bruyne future?
Sourav Bhakat asks
Who is likely to make way for De Bruyne when he returns? Looks likely that he will get a start in the League only when Pep wants to rotate ..
Stu says: Fernandinho is also due back but I would suggest Pep will do what he did last time De Bruyne came back from injury, and shift Bernardo back out to the right-hand side. That will leave De Bruyne, David Silva and Gundogan - who has been excellent in the deeper role - to rotate. City will need them all with games coming thick and fast.
What's taking Leroy?
WILES kicks off by asking
Sane signing a new deal true?
Stu says: Given that he has not been a first pick for Pep this season, as he was last, it is understandable that Sane is taking his time over a new deal. There are rumours that the player’s mum has got involved in the talks, but we have no verification of that. Some deals, like Bernardo, are done quickly, and some drag on, but City seem quietly confident that Sane will eventually reach agreement
