... as City raise title heat and pump up the volume
AtHUD. Another thud. And then again. the walls of the temporary away dressing room in Elland road’s car park took a thumping. It was some racket.
the bass became heavier, the structure shaking to the music being played by Manchester City’s players. For them, this victory was not sealed with three second-half goals as the game became stretched, but in 25 first-half minutes.
During that period, City might have caved. they were one up but not comfortable.
Pep Guardiola appeared so concerned that someone ought to have looked out Marcelo Bielsa’s old bucket. It can’t have been good for the man’s knees, too long spent on his haunches.
their midfield went missing before Phil Foden was dragged into that area, a move that won the game.
City went two clear with a couple of set-pieces, through rodri and Nathan Ake, either side of the break. Apparently, that came as a surprise to their manager.
‘We are not a team to score a lot of goals in set-pieces but sometimes that can unblock these kind of games,’ Guardiola said.
In fact, City’s 18 goals from dead balls – excluding penalties – is the most of any team in the league this season and the club’s highest since 2014. they have conceded from them just once this season — again, better than the rest.
Nicolas Jover, a specialised setpiece coach, left them for Arsenal last summer and was hailed a ‘genius’ a few months back. His replacement, Carlos Vicens, has overseen an improvement in both boxes. ‘Carlos has made it so simple and clear for the players,’ said Guardiola.
Vicens was hired to coach the Under-12s five years ago and has worked his way up. He is a smart, innovative coach known for his strong communication. City are more durable defensively and offensively despite, as Guardiola is often keen to point out, not being the tallest. Vicens is clearly offering something.
‘the secret of set-pieces is about the taker. With a good taker, you have a chance,’ added Guardiola.
Foden was the devilish taker on Saturday. Could he take over from Kevin De Bruyne?
‘When Kevin is there, Kevin is the taker,’ Guardiola shot back. ‘But it’s good for Phil. He is so young — hopefully he can be here for the rest of his life.’
Foden was mesmeric in a central midfield role that his manager believes is not his calling now but will be in the future. He will take over from De Bruyne when the Belgian calls it quits.
‘He can play in all five positions up front... winger both sides, striker and attacking midfielder in the pockets,’ said Guardiola.
‘With time he will be more capable of playing in the positions in the middle. He still does all actions at high speed and sometimes you have to have some pausa.’
Pausa is the ability to slow a game down. to stop and watch the runners around, to know when to speed it up. to know when to thump the walls.
‘He has the energy of youth and maybe winger suits him better right now but, in the academy at 15, he played the position of Kevin and he played really good,’ said Guardiola.
‘(But) all the actions are so, so quick.
‘I always talk about David Silva, sometimes he slowed the rhythm to increase the rhythm and Phil’s rhythm is always high.
‘It’s good because it’s aggressive and we need it, but sometimes he needs a little more in that sitaution but that is only a question of time.’
LEEDS UNITED (5-4-1): Meslier 6; Dallas 5 (James 45), Ayling 5, Koch 6, Struijk 6, Firpo 6 (Gelhardt 62); Raphinha 7, Phillips 7, Klich 5, Harrison 6; Rodrigo 6 (Greenwood 83).
Subs not used: Klaesson, Llorente, Bate, Cresswell, Shackleton. Booked: Firpo.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Ederson 7; Cancelo 7, Dias 8, Laporte 8, Ake 8 (Zinchenko 60); Rodri 8 (Fernandinho 83), Gundogan 7; Sterling 7, Foden 9 (Silva 80), Grealish 7; Jesus 8. Subs not used: Steffen, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Egan-Riley, Mbete, McAtee. Booked: Grealish, Cancelo.
Man of the match: Phil Foden. Referee: Paul Tierney. Attendance: 35,771.