City giving up a bit too easily for my liking

IT’S a long time since I left a stadium as frustrated as I did last Sunday. The manner of Manchester City’s defeat to Leicester was so alarming I was still stewing on it midweek.

At the beginning of the season, I tipped City for the title. I argued that a dressing room as accustomed to winning as theirs would want to rip the trophy back out of Liverpool’s hands — and I won’t change my mind after two games. That would be ridiculous.

But, equally, I can’t bottle my feelings. The way they fell apart left me concerned about the way the season is going to unfold. Perhaps this will serve as a jolt and remind some of the squad about what it means to play for the club.

Defeats happen. There are ways to lose, though, and it felt like some gave up too easily.

If that was the case, i t’s unacceptable. I like Leicester and I thought Jamie Vardy was superb but City don’t concede five at home to Leicester.

There’s now more scrutiny on a defence who cost in excess of £350million to assemble.

Ruben Dias, from Benfica, is the latest addition for a clubrecord fee and already people are referring to him as ‘ The next Vincent Kompany’. Such comparisons are ridiculous.

Nobody will ever match Kompany. Vinny was one of the greatest defenders of t he Premier League era but, off the pitch his impact helped shape the club as well.

Vinny raised standards in training and made sure players were happy. He knew what the club was like before the Abu Dhabi takeover, he knew the connection with the community and what City stands for with its supporters.

That’s why I say it’s ridiculous — and unfair — to compare Dias( below) to him. Same with Phil Foden. He isn’t the next David Silva. He has a beautiful left foot but is a completely different midfielder; it’s far-fetched to think a new face replaces an old one and everything stays the same.

There are leaders in the current squad; Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho.

City need someone, however, whose leadership extends away from the pitch.

Supporters want to see players who will fight; they don’t want to see the ball being popped around with no end result and they certainly won’t tolerate conceding goals like last weekend. There is nothing wrong, sometimes, with just sitting in and defending to get your shape. Liverpool have started brilliantly and you have to expect they’ll get 90-plus points again. There’s a theory you can get at them if you beat their press but Liverpool will score four if they concede three — they really are that potent. If City are to become champions, they need to take that on board. Another setback at Leeds would make things even more difficult. I’m hoping the situation will see new leaders emerge.