Ndidi is also key to how City attack
AEK ATHENS AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT ROUND OF EUROPA LEAGUE
WITH his telescopic legs and anticipation of play, Wilfred Ndidi is a very good defensive midfielder. That was established at Leicester City long ago.
But his greatest impact as he slowly builds towards a full return from injury is, indirectly, in City’s attack.
After a groin problem kept him on the sidelines for a few months, Ndidi started for just the second time since September on Thursday night as City breezed to victory and to top spot in their Europa League group.
The Nigerian played as if he had little rust to shake off, not only making a handful of tackles and interceptions, but pressing with speed and aggression to force turnovers.
It is those attributes that indirectly influence City’s attack too.
Brendan Rodgers ditched the back three on Thursday night in favour of a back four, enabling him to bring in an extra attacking player, but it seemed like he was confident enough to do this because he has the security of Ndidi there.
Rodgers knows that he can opt for a back four, tell his full-backs to push forward and yet still feel comfortable that if the opposition break out, Ndidi has the energy and pace to get across to either flank and snuff out the danger. Papy Mendy cuts off passing lines and knocks the ball around flawlessly, but he’s not the all-action defensive shield that Ndidi is.
And so City had three players operating behind the striker, giving the opposition more to think about, while they were also able to build combinations between the fullbacks and wingers on the flanks too.
While they only scored two goals, their tally of 18 shots ranked as the highest in any game they had played this season.
Speaking of combinations on the wings, it was a joy to see Harvey Barnes and Luke Thomas linking so well on Thursday evening.
There was the long ball from Thomas to send Barnes clear for his goal, but also plenty of intricate play on the left, with one-touch passes into feet, instinctive back-heels, and through balls telegraphing the other’s run.
While it may seem that it was a partnership built in the City academy, that is not necessarily the case.
Barnes is a few years older than his left-back team-mate, and so
while their paths will have crossed growing up, they will have rarely if ever been in the same youth sides.
But that makes it more exciting. If they are working so well in tandem right now, when they have barely played together, how good could they be when they really know each other inside out?
And there should be plenty of time for that.
Barnes is 23 and Thomas is 19 – they could be City’s left side for years to come.
For supporters that would be incredibly satisfying, with both of the players growing up locally, in Countesthorpe and Syston respectively.
Set-pieces have been a hot topic at City over the past few weeks, although predominantly in a defensive sense, with the club holding the worst record in the Premier League.
But it’s also clear City could perhaps be better when attacking them too.
They win their fair share of corners and free-kicks, but goals have not been quite so frequent, with Hamza Choudhury’s back-post volley from a corner at AEK Athens in October the sole goal from a setpiece this season.
City did indeed look more dangerous from corners and free-kicks on Thursday night, with Jonny Evans, Wesley Fofana and Ndidi all attacking the box, although their eagerness to win the header led to a few free-kicks the other way.
What also helped was Cengiz Under’s delivery.
Against Sheffield United, James Maddison’s crosses were picked out for criticism by supporters, but Under, on dead-ball duty on Thursday, beat the first man much more often.
However, it shouldn’t be said that City need a new regular when it comes to set-pieces.
Maddison created more chances from free-kicks and corners than any other player in the Premier
League in his first two seasons at the club.
He knows how to whip a ball in. Just when Ayoze Perez jumped off the fringes to net his first goal of the campaign and make team selection that bit tougher, Under and Barnes have done the same.
Under’s fitness has been a concern for Rodgers up to now, with the Turkish international still to start a Premier League game, but he now has two full matches under his belt.
Add in his dribbling ability and his eye for a pass, and he seems worthy of a place in the 11 tomorrow night.
But then there’s Barnes too, whose electrifying performance on Thursday saw him net his sixth goal of the season. Take away the penalties netted by Jamie Vardy this term, and Barnes is City’s top scorer.
But who do they replace? Perez is certainly deserving of another start given how he played at Sheffield United, Maddison is still City’s most creative player, and Dennis Praet is the most wellrounded of the options behind Vardy.
It’s not getting easier for Rodgers, but it’s a nice problem to have.
There are 15 sides that City could face in the next round of the Europa League, and they shouldn’t fear any of them.
Real Sociedad, a point off top in La Liga, look like the most challenging potential opponents, while Benfica and Salzburg will no doubt cause problems.
There is the possibility of long trips to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Krasnodar, and Dynamo Kiev too.
But no matter who gets picked out of the hat, City will be more than a match for them.
They have shown in their Europa League campaign so far that they can cope with the new challenges it poses.
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Barnes, 23, and Thomas, 19, could be City’s left side for years to come which would be incredibly satisfying