Football: Manchester City humbled
“So, this is the thing with Pep Guardiola’s philosophy,” said Ian Ladyman in the Daily Mail. The Manchester City manager has a “special” approach to football. “But when it goes wrong, it goes really wrong.” We’ve seen that twice in the past fortnight when, for the first time in Guardiola’s coaching career, his team conceded three goals in two consecutive matches. First, last Wednesday, City were hammered 3-0 by Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals; then, on Saturday, their arch-rivals Manchester United came back from two goals down to defeat them 3-2. Victory over United would have secured the Premier League title with a record six matches to spare – instead, City must wait until this weekend at the very earliest. And on Tuesday, in the second leg of the Champions League tie, they lost again: Liverpool won 2-1 (5-1 on aggregate), knocking City out of the competition.
Make no mistake, this is still “a special City team”, said Oliver Kay in The Times. In 32 Premier League games, they have amassed 84 points and scored 90 goals. They are certain to win the title, and will stand out as “the most memorable champions of recent years”. But on the rare occasions that opponents have “dared to lay a glove on them”, their “frailties have been exposed”. What was remarkable about the two losses last week was “just how little” it took to floor City: Liverpool scored their three goals in 19 minutes, United in just 16. The best teams “do not collapse in that manner” – certainly not twice in four days. The trick is forcing City to defend, said Martin Keown in the Daily Mail. “If you attack them, they are as vulnerable as anyone else.” Their defenders have practically had “their deckchairs out for the majority of this season” – but when called upon last week, Nicolás Otamendi, in particular, let the side down. In their last 12 matches, the side have now kept just five clean sheets.
In attack, too, cracks have opened, said James Ducker in The Daily Telegraph. The wastefulness that infuriated Guardiola last season has “come back to haunt” the club: Raheem Sterling missed two chances against United. And City are struggling to produce late goals – only once in their last 11 matches have they scored after the 60th minute. Obviously there’s no need for “dramatic change”, said Martin Samuel in the Daily Mail. After all, it was just two weeks ago that this team humiliated Everton, reducing them to 18% possession at Goodison Park. And Champions League success will surely come, “one day”. But City cannot afford to be “complacent”. Liverpool and United have found a way to beat them – and they will both be even better next season.