City managers missing the point
IT MUST come as a great disappointment to Sheik Mansour that Manchester City are without a league title since 2014 — particularly as, according to his managers, they have the best team every year. Pep Guardiola’s claim at the weekend is nothing new. In December last season, Manuel Pellegrini also said City were the best team — and just before leaving he announced they had been the best of the last three seasons, which must have come as a surprise to Leicester and Chelsea, the two previous champions. City managers tend to want prizes for competitions that do not exist: scoring the most goals or creating most chances, as if football is a beauty contest. They want the rosette for best in show. Yet with a little more realism, City could be close to unstoppable next season. Beyond the defence, who do they really need to buy? Already, Guardiola can choose six from Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan. He has Fernando, Nolito, Jesus Navas, Fabian Delph, even Yaya Toure as his alternates, if he wishes — and this is without any promotions from the Under 21 team. If he sells Aguero, or some squad men leave, he may need replacements — but there is very little wrong with City going forward. He is short on defence, though. Certainly a goalkeeper — because Claudio Bravo has been a disaster and Guardiola is in denial over it — both full backs and another centre half to partner John Stones, maybe even two more with Vincent Kompany’s fitness so unreliable. Yet to prioritise in this area, City’s manager has to concede that points are more important than goals, passes and chances created; more important than all the aesthetic qualities that have been talked up above the truth of the league table for three years. Do that, and City are more than dangerous; ignore it, and risk another season of empty words.