GUNDOGAN QUESTIONS CITY’S BOTTLE
ILKAY GUNDOGAN criticised Manchester City’s mental fragility in big matches after their Champions League loss to Tottenham. ‘We were not brave enough in the game, there were many simple mistakes,’ said the City midfielder. ‘I have the feeling that we are nervous in important Champions League games. We have always made the wrong decisions.’
Gundogan’s claim will come as no surprise to Pep Guardiola, who has regularly pointed out that the Premier League champions lack experience on the european stage. Guardiola claimed last week that the only difference this season to last has been a smooth progression ession through the Fa Cup.
For him, the he performances are re similar and the e Catalan labelled their display at Tottenham ‘incredible’.
The defeat did bear certain hallmarks of the capitulation n at Liverpool in n the same fixture ure last year, although ough City are in a much healthier position on heading into Wednesday’s second leg.
Sergio aguero’s early penalty miss jolted City and Gundogan believes subsequent problems lie in the mind. ‘Such negative experiences always throw us back too much,’ he said. ‘If we put the penalty in, we would have taken Spurs apart. That must not
happen to a big team and is why we’re not there yet.’ It is easy to forget this was only City’s second defeat in 24 matches and an historic clean sweep of trophies remains a possibility. Guardiola’s issues with certain individuals are minor in isolation, but those can add up to something more troubling when they all come together at once — just as they did at Tottenham. He know knows there are th things to fix. Riyad Ma Mahrez got th the nod o over Leroy S Sane because he keeps hold of the ball with more purpose. Observers are left wondering why Sane has n not started a significant si match sinc since the win over Liverp Liverpool in January, while h his contract stand- t d off ff has caused concerns behind the scenes. The offside-prone Gabriel Jesus would surely have started instead of half-fit aguero had confidence in him been high. at left back, the inclusion of Fabian Delph provoked discussion. Delph has started five of the six games City have lost this season.
His presence has waned since a red card at Leicester over Christmas. But Benjamin Mendy was not deemed fit enough to start two games in four days and Guardiola decided against shunting aymeric Laporte out on the left.
It all makes the case of aleks Zinchenko more interesting.
Zinchenko’s attitude was questioned last summer when he refused to leave the club. now City are pining for him — some turnaround.
This is all before Guardiola even starts thinking about Player of the Year Kevin De Bruyne, who admits that previous injuries are affecting his performances.
Goalkeeper ederson faces an anxious wait to hear the extent of his hip injury. aro Muric would step in at Palace on Sunday.
The next two matches — plus the league match against Spurs at the etihad on april 20 — could define City’s season. Guardiola has been handling these issues for some time. So far, they have dealt with them — whether they can continue as pressure mounts will be crucial in the coming weeks.