Freddie cries foul over the Blues’ tactic to halt side
ARSENAL coach Freddie Ljungberg highlighted the tactical fouls from City as a key difference between the two teams.
Kevin de Bruyne scored two and assisted another as the Belgian inspired his team to score three terrific goals against the Gunners.
Pep Guardiola suggested the overall performance had not been as sparkling as the result made it look, and Ljungberg thought his team had created chances but were fouled before they had a chance to cause City bigger problems.
The absence of Fernandinho from the holding midfield role has been cited for a reason the Blues have been easier to play through this season, but at the Emirates the Brazilian – along with Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Benjamin Mendy – all picked up bookings to prevent dangerous situations from becoming clear goalscoring opportunities.
Ljungberg says that is cynical, but intelligent, and played a significant role in the scoreline.
“We’ve got done again but if you look at City when we can countered them - which was one of our gameplans - they took four yellow cards from just kicking us down when we had a chance to counter,” he said.
“That’s obviously tactical and they worked on that but maybe we have to learn to be more cynical when opponents have a chance to counter.
“It’s maybe a bit of a weakness of ours.
“It’s intentional by City. They do it, it’s obvious to see.
“I said to the fourth official: that’s tactical.
“Maybe we need to be cynical as well - if we know that we’re a bit weak on the transition then take that free-kick.”
KEVIN de Bruyne believes City remain every bit as good as Liverpool, even if they are set to lose their Premier League crown to the Merseysiders.
The Blues trail 14 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s team and face an almost impossible task of closing the gap and securing a third consecutive title.
City stayed in faint touch by winning 3-0 at Arsenal on Sunday, and can close the gap on secondplaced Leicester by beating them at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
De Bruyne was asked after his stunning display against the Gunners about the team’s mentality, and suggested the gap was not a question of how good Liverpool and City are, but about how well they have been playing.
He refuted the idea the Blues have slackened off mentally, saying: “I think the mentality has been the same since the beginning.
“Obviously we know we’ve not been at our best this year, but it happens.
“At this level the minimum details make the difference and I think every time we lost a game we showed a good reaction, so that shows that the mentality is good.
“We know we lost too many points up until now but that’s the way it goes, if football was the best team winning all the time it would be boring wouldn’t it. We know we need to work hard and we try to do that.”
That seemed to indicate De Bruyne still thinks City are the best team, and when asked if that was the case, he replied: “Well I think we are one of.
“Obviously we are not in the top position but it doesn’t undermine the qualities that we have, whatever sport you play it’s not the best team who always win.
“That doesn’t mean that Liverpool aren’t great. I think we are up there with them but we didn’t perform to our level this year.” City fans get the feeling that the season is almost on hold until February, when the Blues resume their Champions League campaign with a tough trip to Real Madrid for a last 16 first leg game.
The players showed they do not think the same way by putting in a very good display at the Emirates, and De Bruyne confirmed it afterwards. “It is never easy because obviously the goal was going for the title - we know that the gap is big but I think you’re a professional playing at this level and you need to perform week in, week out even if you don’t win it,” he said.
“We need to try to find the rhythm. There’s two cup competitions to play plus the Champions League.
Kevin de Bruyne