Blues left so short despite millions

SO, despite splashing out £128.5million on full-backs in the summer, Pep Guardiola still had to deploy Fabian Delph as an emergency left-back last night.

Guardiola had admitted in his pre-match press conference he would have a problem if Benjamin Mendy failed to recover from his knee injury – and so it proved.

It is a flaw in Guardiola’s Manchester City squad, which is the most-expensive ever assembled in football, that he doesn’t have a second left-back.

It’s an uncharacteristic oversight from a coach who is on top of every detail, especially when he sets such store in his full-backs.

Guardiola had probably not expected Aleksandar Kolarov to go, but the Serb’s head was turned by an offer from Roma.

So it was left to Delph to smooth off his square corners and try to be a round peg in a round hole.

Guardiola had every faith in Delph because as a former midfielder himself, the Catalan believes they are the most intelligent players on the pitch due to their ability to play in defence and attack.

Delph was probably just glad to get a start and it was only his 21st in his two-and-a-bit years at City.

Because of the way Guardiola likes his full-backs to push into midfield, he spent much of the game tucked in on the left in his natural position.

But Mendy driving forward for City from his left-back position has been a big plus for them this season and Delph did not do that.

Defensively, he was not overworked and Fernandinho sat deep to offer protection to John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.

Shakhtar, who looked lively, attacked mainly through the middle and down the left, although Delph did make a fine tackle on Bohdan Butko when they ventured down his flank.

But bigger challenges lie ahead if Mendy remains out.

Chelsea on Saturday at Stamford Bridge will be a different proposition for City and their makeshift left-back.