I don't know what you all are thinking but from my point of view Manchester City team has started this season very badly than last season. Last season had a fantastic performance which deserves praise but the team's performance has suffered a bit since Kevin DeBruina left the team due to injury at the beginning of this season.
Last season Man City recorded 28 wins, 5 draws and five defeats in 38 matches in the EPL. I think it is too early to compare Man City current performance with last season, because the match has only entered its eighth week. Moreover, Pep Guardiola squad has only experienced one defeat in the EPL so far, of course Pep and the City squad will have the ambition to finish with more points than last season.
Kevin De Bruyne role is very vital in the Man City squad, this cannot be denied, but I don't think it's a big problem. The depth of Pep squad can cover De Bruyne absence, although it must be admitted that City sometimes has difficulty creating creativity to score goals. De Bruyne injury recovery is reportedly progressing quickly, but there is no certainty when the Belgian player will be available again in the Man City squad.