Almost every player that City have signed or promoted to replace their regular starters over the past few years have been downgrades.
They built their Centurion era on some of the best talents available and that calibre of talents is now more difficult to get for a new cycle.

Haaland and Gvardiol have been top acquisitions. The rest of their business in the past two years is not up to par with the quality that has left.
Not their fault. They were well-placed back then: less rivals for talent in England and other clubs did not have their own Peps.

Think about all the top players they've wanted in the past two years they couldn't get.
Kane
Bellingham
Balde
Yamal
Rice
And the calibre of players that have left
Sterling
Jesus
Mahrez
Gundogan
Massive goal threats, dribbling threats all gone like that.