Centre-back pairing n-Ota problem for defiant boss
PEP Guardiola defended the performances of his centre-back pairing after City slipped to a damaging home defeat by Wolves.
The Blues were repeatedly undone down the middle in the first half, with veteran Nicolas Otamendi and stand-in Fernandinho forced into some last-ditch defending.
Otamendi in particular suffered, and coming after his slack role in the 3-2 defeat at Norwich, fingers are being pointed at a defender who almost left the club in the summer.
He stayed because the departure of Vincent Kompany and failure to buy Harry Maguire as a replacement meant he would get more opportunities.
And with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones both out injured, Otamendi has got his chance.
He had a poor game against Wolves, but Guardiola did his usual trick of deflecting the criticism.
Asked if this had been a game too far for the two centre-backs after four wins from four, he said: “No. They were quite good. They suffered because we lost possession in front of them. No central defenders can sustain this kind of balls we lose in the first moments. They were good.”
Guardiola said City’s problems came further up the field.
He added: “We conceded but it was the way we did it. When you have the ball and you pass back.
“The first goal, we lost the ball inside. We have to improve but that happens because maybe we weren’t solid in our build-up. It is not just about the defensive side.” CITY’S shock 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Sunday has left Liverpool with an eight-point lead heading into the international break.
City have now lost two matches so far this season, while Jurgen Klopp’s side boast a 100 per cent record after eight matches - dramatically extending that streak with a lastgasp penalty against Leicester City.
Although it is still very early in the season, Liverpool’s advantage in the title race could already be decisive as the Reds, who have won 17 Premier League matches in a row, will now have to drop points in at least three matches for City to recover.
However, Liverpool do have some potentially tricky matches on the horizon, whereas City have a series of home matches ahead of them that could allow Pep Guardiola’s side to find their rhythm.
After the upcoming international break, City travel to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on October 19, while Liverpool tackle United at Old Trafford the following day.
City then have four consecutive home matches across all competitions, hosting Atalanta in the Champions League and Southampton in the Carabao Cup, while they also face the Saints in the Premier League - as well as Aston Villa.
In that same period, Liverpool must travel to face Genk in the Champions League, host Tottenham in the Premier League and Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, before an away match against Aston Villa.
Before the two titans of English football lack horns at Anfield on November 10, City travel to Italy to tackle Atalanta and Liverpool welcome Genk to Anfield as both sides play their fourth matches of the Champions League group stage.