1. MIDFIELD THREE MISSING
Manchester City coasted to the title last season because they had the best midfield. Between them, Kevin de Bruyne, Fernandinho and David Silva either scored or assisted in 52 of City's 106 league goals. Silva missed 10 games because of his son's premature birth, so that total would have been higher.
This season, they have not started one league game together because of injury problems for de Bruyne and Silva, and most recently Fernandinho (above) as well.
What City have missed is a perfectly balanced midfield. They have one attacking left-footer (Silva), one attacking right-footer (de Bruyne) and, in Fernandinho, they have a destroyer who sits deep and protects.
City also miss David Silva because of his understanding with Leroy Sane down the left.
Bernardo Silva, with five goals, has performed well in de Bruyne's position but he is starting to feel the strain. He said: "It's the toughest time since I came here."
2. CANNOT DEFEND HIGH BALLS
City's inability to defend high balls in their box is a problem that manager Pep Guardiola has known about since his maiden season in England.
"It's difficult to defend against long balls. In Spain and Germany, it doesn't happen. I have to learn," said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
Two years on, City's aerial struggles remain.
City have one of the shortest squads in the league. They have only five outfield players who are 1.85m or taller (Aymeric Laporte, Danilo, Sane, John Stones and Vincent Kompany). Given that Danilo and Kompany barely play, that leaves just three tall players in the team at any one time.
Some of City's costliest goals have come from high crosses into the box, such as Leicester's opener on Wednesday, David Luiz's header (above) in the defeat by Chelsea and Willy Boly's diving header in the 1-1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
3. FULL-BACKS' POOR FORM
The return of Benjamin Mendy (above) from a serious knee injury was supposed to make City's defence complete again but the left-back position remains an area of weakness.
At the start of the season, the 24-year-old recorded five assists in his opening seven games but his form then dipped.
Guardiola has no like-for-like replacement for Mendy. Fabian Delph filled in adequately last season but this term he has not been as good, particularly when it comes to his positional discipline.
City have also struggled because they do not have adequate competition for Kyle Walker, the right-back.
Danilo has not played consistently well since joining from Real Madrid 18 months ago, so when Walker plays poorly - as he did against Crystal Palace - Guardiola can only bring in a far less mobile and effective replacement.
THE TIMES, LONDON
Johhnny Murtagh rode Motivator again in the Derby, but only after successfully appealing a three-day riding ban which would have ruled him out of the race. Motivator was a well-supported 3/1 favourite for the Derby, ahead Gypsy King at 7/2 and Dubawi at 5/1.
If you're not motivated for Spurs, there's no point in
Ikhsan Fandi starts 'adulting' in Norway, Football News & Top
Football: Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run Leicester City's Jamie Vardy (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. PHOTO: AFP
Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run
Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says Pochettino • Spurs lost 4-3 in a classic encounter against City in Wednesday's quarter-final second leg, but went through on away goals after the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate.
Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London.
Ozil leads five-star Arsenal past Bournemouth - France - RFI
en.rfi.fr/wire/20190227-ozil-leads-five-star-arsenal-past-bournemouth
Ozil leads five-star Arsenal past Bournemouth. The Ozil-Mkhitaryan connection again opened up Bournemouth down Arsenal's right and Mkhitaryan picked out Koscielny, whose shot deflected in off
Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to the streets of the city centre. Pep Guardiola's City side became the
Bayern vs Liverpool: Reds won't sacrifice Champions League for Premier League, says Alisson. The Merseyside club, who face Bayern Munich in the Champions League later on Wednesday, are also in the
Newly appointed Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he wants to see his players "enjoying their football again" while promising them a "clean slate" under his watch. Former United forward Solskjaer was announced as Jose Mourinho's temporary successor on Wednesday, a day after the Portuguese was sacked at Old Trafford
Solskjaer set for caretaker role as United eye up Pochettino
BAKU: Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is a doubt for Wednesday's Europa League final against Arsenal because of a knee injury, with coach Maurizio Sarri rating the French star's chances of playing
Chelsea sweat on Kante fitness for Europa League final
Women's team suing US Soccer for gender-pay disparity The US women's football team are the world champions but they are repeatedly earning less than their male counterparts. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE
U.S. Women's Soccer Team Sues U.S. Soccer for Gender
Wood double gives Burnley win over Cardiff in relegation scrap
Manchester City suffer shock 3-2 Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace. Pep Guardiola's team opened the scoring in the first half through Ilkay Gundogan but Roy Hodgson's men hit back through
Man City suffer shock Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace
Ronaldo Faces Disciplinary Hearing Over Goal Celebration After scoring the decisive penalty four minutes from time, Ronaldo turned towards the Atletico fans and replicated Simeone's gesture after the Spaniards' 2-0 first leg win by grasping his genitals and thrusting out his groin.
Ronaldo faces disciplinary hearing over goal celebration
Ronaldo '1,000%' sure of staying. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri embracing Cristiano Ronaldo, both with their heads covered in foam, after the Italian club sealed their eighth consecutive
Zidane sure of Ronaldo's stay - YouTube
Apr 27, 2019 · LONDON (AP) — Norwich is returning to the English Premier League after a three-year absence, and Sheffield United is likely to be promoted, too. Norwich, from eastern England, clinched one of
Norwich Promoted To Premier League After Three-Year Absence
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen