Work of Art lacks a bit of quality

HE was determined to do it his way even before kick-off.

Mikel Arteta (above), taking charge of Manchester City in the absence of the suspended Pep Guardiola, was out on the pitch during the warm-up, taking part in and overseeing the drills.

Guardiola, sitting in the stands with his family as he served a one-match touchline ban for haranguing the ref last season as City crashed out to Liverpool, is hardly ever seen on the pitch before games.

But Arteta, nicknamed “coach” during his playing days at Arsenal because of his analytical approach to the game, is clearly his own man – even though he shares the same football philosophy as Guardiola, both having graduated from Barcelona.

There are those within City who would be happy to see Guardiola’s successor appointed from within when he eventually decides to move on, with Arteta effectively being groomed for the role.

In that sense, this was an audition for Arteta, one he was doomed to fail when Maxwel Cornet put Lyon ahead and Nabil Fekir doubled their lead.

City could only reply through Bernardo Silva, this shock defeat underlining the value of Guardiola’s presence on the touchline.

And what a tough job it is stepping into his shoes – as Arteta found to his cost.