MANCHESTER CITY

The pressure is on Pep to deliver

Incredibly for a coach considered to be one of the greatest tacticians of all time, nine years have passed since City boss Pep Guardiola masterminded his last triumph in the Champions League. He did not reach one final in his three years at the Bayern Munich helm and, since taking over at Manchester City, has never gone beyond the quarter-final stage. Has he lost his touch? Is he suffering from a curse or hoodoo? Whatever the reasons, Pep is, like it or not, under increasing pressure to break out of this tail-spin.

The key for City is consistency, making sure they find a way not to carelessly let their guard down. Last season they beat mightyRealMadridhomeandawayin the last 16. The scalp of the Galacticos should have been a platform for a fullthrottle glory run. But at the next hurdle, it was the same old story, succumbing 3-1 to Lyon. City were clearly the better team and fashioned more chances. Yet ultimately were sent packing, let down by lapses in concentration and their vulnerability to swift counter-attacks.

Even with David Silva leaving the Etihad this summer for one last hurrah with Real Sociedad, City are still spoilt for choice in the attacking third. Last season, they became only the fifth Premier League side to hit 100 goals in a single campaign and there’s no reason to believe that the flow of firepower will come to an end any time soon.

Can City solve their welldocumented defensive deficiencies?

There is lot to put right. Individual losses of concentration at the back and a

attitude to counter attacks are the major problems. The arrival of Portuguese centre-back Ruben Dias (ex-Benfica) should prove beneficial.

Does Pep overthink his strategy on the big occasion in Europe?

Without damning this monument of a coach, it is a valid argument. In European defeats with Bayern and City, he has at times outfoxed himself, gone overboard in looking for the revolutionary checkmate. His attempts at surprising the opposition only have had the opposite effect.

How important is Aguero’s return?

When Argentine goleador Sergio Aguero is on the pitch, City always look far more formidable. Brazilian front-man Gabriel Jesus moves wonderfully off the ball, but can be wasteful in the red zone.