City vulnerable when they are made to defend

WHen you’re winning games and going unbeaten, you feel as if you’re walking on air. Confidence is so sky-high, it seems that nothing can go wrong.

Manchester City have lost that in the past week. they had such an aura of invincibility about them, it was becoming almost mythical how great these championsin-waiting were.

now, as opponents, they are human. What Liverpool and Manchester United have exposed is that they have weaknesses. If you attack them, they are as vulnerable as anyone else.

City have been afforded a remarkable amount of respect in the Premier League this season.

they have barely had to defend because teams have not asked them questions. even Chelsea, the reigning english champions, did not manage a single shot on target when they visited the etihad stadium.

Liverpool did ask questions in the Champions League and, as we found out, Pep Guardiola’s side did not have an answer.

United did the same in the second half on saturday and again, no answer. their frailties in defence have been magnified by these defeats.

City are still set to be crowned Premier League champions and Guardiola will not change his philosophy. His way of winning has always been to attack and be better at doing that than their opponents.

Guardiola will say his attackers missed chances and should have been out of sight by half-time but it was his defenders who let him down on saturday. they made basic errors.

nicolas otamendi and Co have practically been able to have their deckchairs out for the majority of this season but they are paid to defend when called upon.

on saturday, otamendi in particular failed to sense the danger. He did not track Paul Pogba for his second goal and lost Chris smalling for United’s winning third.

thinking back to the international break, Guardiola seemed on edge but City’s first game back was against everton, who allowed them so much freedom on the ball and lost 3-1.

Liverpool learned from that. they went into their Champions League night at Anfield aware of what not to do. they refused to allow City time to play their creative game and won the battle.

After that loss, Guardiola will have wanted to get back that feeling of invincibility immediately against United, but it has gone. Liverpool will be licking their lips in anticipation of tomorrow’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg.