Although the Guinness International Champions Cup may not have been at the forefront of Manuel Pellegrini's silverware aspirations, the tournament presented the Chilean with a variety of welcome selection dilemmas ahead of the 2014/2015 Premier League season.
(Manuel Pellegrini has depth available to him next season)
Pre-season allows players to replenish their fitness levels, re-adapt themselves to the playing style of their club and acquire confidence. It also provides the perfect initiation for new arrivals, and City's tour of the US gave new signings Willy Caballero, Fernando Reges, Bruno Zuculini and Kelechi Iheanacho the opportunity to both impress and acclimatise to the attacking philosophies of Manuel Pellegrini.
Micah Richards' comical penalty miss against Olympiacos may have summed up a minor problem the blues need to tackle, but nine goals from three fixtures against top-class European opposition suggests that the 60-year-old South American is not about to change his predatory approach to football.
City failed to reach the final of the tournament, but the tour proved a success for the club's academy. Emyr Huws, Greg Leigh, Karim Rekik, John Guidetti and Kelechi Iheanacho were all awarded minutes in the competition that offered Manchester City fans a promising view of their team's future.
Pre-season is by no means an accurate predictor of how a team may perform in the upcoming season, but these three players undoubtedly benefited from City's tour of the USA:
Stevan Jovetić
The £22m signing from Fiorentina suffered a nightmarish start to life in Manchester. Persistent injury trouble threatened to cut short his stay at the Etihad Stadium and the forward was immediately linked with a loan move back to Italy in the January transfer window.
However, in the 11 league appearances that Jovetić did make for Manchester City last season, he provided glimpses of the mouthwatering talent Manuel Pellegrini submitted millions for. The Montenegrin floats around the 18-yard-box menacingly and his skill and composure on the ball enables him to interchange brilliantly with the likes of David Silva, Samir Nasri and Sergio Agüero.
The 24-year-old was the star of City's pre-season and scored five goals in the Guinness International Champions Cup. His movement terrified defenders, and his confidence in front of goal brought a smile to the face of Pellegrini who may have been preparing for a trip to St.James' Park with an exhausted strike partnership of Sergio Agüero and Edin Džeko.
Jovetić's exciting pre-season has almost certainly guaranteed him a starting slot in City's eleven for the Community Shield on Sunday and if he can maintain his fitness levels throughout the season, City will be even more ferocious going forward.
Bruno Zuculini
The 21-year-old was ever-present in City's tour of the US and established himself as one of Manuel Pellegrini's best performers.
The Argentine was an assured figure in the heart of City's midfield and his vision instigated a number of threatening attacks. Protecting the defence and supplementing the attack, Zuculini demonstrated maturity beyond his years in a promising series of pre-season perfomances.
Zuculini is likely to be loaned out with Valencia and Deportivo La Coruña keen on acquiring the midfielder's services, but a recent poll conducted by the Manchester Evening News indicates that 60% of City fans want the club to keep him for the upcoming season.
Fernando
Nicknamed 'The Octopus', City's £12m man nestled into Manuel Pellegrini's midfield comfortably in America.
The Brazilian rarely gave the ball away and often acted as the middle-man when City's back line were looking to initiate an attack. Although it has been suggested that the former FC Porto man's arrival will provide cover for Fernandinho and Yaya Touré, the 27-year-old could become a vital asset in a potential 4-5-1 formation. Fernando mops up the play in front of the defence with certainty and will allow Fernandinho and Touré to exercise their attacking abilities further up the field.
An impressive start to life at Manchester City - Manuel Pellegrini has some decisions to make.
