One word sums up Manchester City's belief that they can regain the Premier League title: Goals.
Although Manuel Pellegrini's men finished last season as the division's top scorers, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Southampton were all able to boast superior defensive records. Many would presume that City's priority this summer should have been to strengthen a back four that shipped an amazing nine points against the three relegated (?) clubs alone. But City have once again decided to leave 'winning ugly' to Chelsea.
An initial payment of £44 million has secured the promising youngster Raheem Sterling, while even an even higher fee will be needed to bring in Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne before the transfer window closes.
Throw players like that into an explosive mix that already includes Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony and it is clear that Pellegrini has no plan of copying Jose Mourinho's pragmatic approach winning football matches.
Mourinho and Pellegrini: Two very different styles.
Even before John Terry lifted the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge in May, Pellegrini was telling anyone prepared to listen that it was a lack of goals that had cost his team the title. Eighty-three goals scored was not enough.
The previous season when City finished top, 10 points ahead of Chelsea, it was the 102 goals City scored - 31 more than the Londoners - that was the key statistic.
In fact, the old saying that strong defenses win leagues has something of a hollow ring to it in the modern attack-minded Premier League.
Since 1992, no fewer than 15 of the 23 champions have also finished top of the goal charts. Yet only 10 teams have bragged the best defense and finished first - and five of those clubs were also able to call on the most strong attack that same season.
Mourinho has bucked the trend. Each of the three times he has won the title for Chelsea, they have bragged the best defense. Only once have they scored the most goals - in 2006- when their total of 72 was matched by Manchester United. Mourinho depends on defensive solidarity to win his Premier League titles. It illustrates just where the Chelsea manager's priorities lie that he has supervised and controlled the best defensive record in every single one of his four full seasons in England.
Of course, striking the right balance is extremely important. Liverpool scored 101 goals in 2014 but conceded 50 and finished second.
That's why City have invested £8 million to add the energy and stubbornness of Fabien Delph to a midfield that some rival managers identified as being one-paced when it came to doing the dirty side of the game.
If - and at £70 million it's a big if - City can revive the move for Juventus' Paul Pogba, they would be buying a midfielder capable of leading and inspiring the team, especially during Yaya Toure's frequent dips in form. The Ivory Coast international may well be back to his best after a rare summer off and no African Cup of Nations in the New Year and, at his peak, there is no better midfield controller in the Premier League.
What is clear is that Pellegrini must find a cure for Vincent Kompany's prolonged period of sub-par performances.(?) Vincent Kompany appeared depressed after matches and needs to find his best form after a disapointing season last time around. He must hope, too, that Eliaquim Mangala's inconsistent first season was nothing more serious than a settling in period.
The fact that Joe Hart picked up his fourth consecutive Golden Gloves award last season suggests he is up there with the best goalkeepers in the division. But it will be by recruiting players with the ability to break down strong defensive teams and overcome the proverbial "parked bus" he often encouters, that Pellegrini will take Man City back to the summit of the English game. Too much was asked of Silva last season when Toure was missing and Samir Nasri was unable to step up, so the pace and direct running of Sterling will bring another dimension to City's attack.
Raheem Sterling: Will he get the goals that fire City to the title? Aguero showed what he is capable of when he stays fit, and much will depend on how the Argentine responds after a long summer that ended in disappointment at the Copa America.
With Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic gone, Bony will have to prove he was worth the £28 million pounds paid to Swansea last winter by replacing their contribution to the team, and especially the goals tally.
Although Pellegrini recently signed a contract extension until 2017, he will still go into the season with the long shadow of Pep Guardiola hanging over him. The Pep talk will only get louder if City don't mount a sustained title challenge.
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