Nico’s the true hero of our run
PEP GUARDIOLA has labelled unsung hero Nicolas Otamendi as his side’s superman.
While most of the accolades for Manchester City’s 18-game winning run have been showered on Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and David Silva, Otamendi has shaken off early criticism that he was an expensive misfit following his £30million move from Valencia in 2015 to emerge as City’s defensive rock.
With Vincent Kompany still plagued by injuries, John Stones not ready to return yet after six weeks out with a torn hamstring, Eliaquim Mangala only at the club because no one was prepared to meet an £18m valuation fee and Tosin Adarabioyio too inexperienced, Otamendi has been the one constant in the heart of a defence that boasts the best record in the Premier League.
And Guardiola says he does not know how City would have coped without the Argentina international who has played in 24 out of 29 games in all competitions, often through the pain barrier.
“We have a superman in the team,” he said. “Without Nico, what we have done would not have been possible.
“Everyone speaks of players such as De Bruyne, Sterling, Aguero and Silva – and they deserve it. But I would like to point to a player who deserves full respect. Nico has been amazing.
“He is a guy who even with pain in the ankle, in the knee, in the back, he always fights. He’s one of the hugest competitors I’ve ever seen in my life. He has been so important.
“I cannot imagine the situation we are in at the moment in terms of the table and how we are playing without him. It would have been impossible.”
Otamendi, 29, has not only improved his defending but also his passing as well as weighing in with five vital goals.
Guardiola added: “Being a central defender in our team is not easy. They can’t just be worried about the defending. You play 40 metres in front of the keeper, you have to defend a lot of space behind, and you have to help us with the build-ups.
“It’s so demanding and it can only happen when you are brave, you have courage, you have a huge personality to try to do it. Right now, he’s reading the situations, where the spaces are to pass the ball, amazingly.
“John Stones can do it – it’s easy for him. But the guys I admire the most are the ones for whom maybe it’s not their strong point, but they try.
“I’m really impressed with Nico because it’s not just happened now, it’s from 18 months working together, and a lot of meetings, a lot of talking about what is a good decision, what is the right way, what you have to do when the opponent jumps, what you have to do when the opponent doesn’t jump. Where are the spaces in front? What are the runs in behind? He’s reading it well.”
Otamendi will play again at Crystal Palace tomorrow because Stones is still not ready, although he is training again, and Kompany is a doubt after limping off early in the midweek win at Newcastle.
City will equal Bayern Munich’s 19-game winning run – a record for any of Europe’s top leagues – set under Guardiola in 2013-14 if they collect three more points.
And that appears likely after Palace manager Roy Hodgson hinted he may be forced to field a much-changed team with Southampton up next just two days later.
After a 3-2 defeat against Arsenal on Thursday night, Hodgson believes his limited squad are on their last legs.
And with City seemingly invincible, the focus would be on Southampton, who are just one point above Palace in the fight for survival.
“We have loads of injuries,” Hodgson said. “There’s no doubt that several players will be doubtful. A lot of players are feeling an element of fatigue and that won’t be helped by the fact that we play Southampton one day after.
“That’s a tough ask for any team, especially for a club like ours. All I can promise is that we’ll put out the very best team we can and do our level best not to accept that we are at the bottom and they are at the top.”