The sight of Rodri parading the Ballon d’Or earlier than kick-off on the Etihad Stadium was a reminder of what they’re lacking. But it surely was nothing in comparison with what adopted. Tottenham administered brutal punishment. Manchester Metropolis’s linchpin may solely watch.
Ange Postecoglou’s facet ran riot within the space of the pitch he usually dominates; an space which has turn into a vacuum in his absence. The vulnerability was clear even earlier than Metropolis’s outcomes started to deteriorate. Not till now, although, had it been uncovered like this.
It may very well be seen in how James Maddison accelerated, untracked, into a niche in Metropolis’s defence for the primary purpose. Seven minutes later, he repeated the trick, solely this time he was left free to latch onto a Heung-Min Son move slightly than a Dejan Kulusevski cross.
Tottenham’s third purpose will make much more painful viewing for Pep Guardiola when he summons up the braveness to look at the sport again, beginning, because it did, with Kulusevski powering by powder-puff resistance in his personal half, and ending with Pedro Porro surrounded by nothing however grass as he slammed dwelling his end.
“What are we watching?” requested Sky Sports activities‘ Gary Neville on co-commentary. However someway it bought worse for Metropolis, Tottenham’s fourth, scored by Brennan Johnson from Timo Werner’s cross, condemning them to their heaviest dwelling defeat beneath Guardiola.
It was actually the heaviest dwelling defeat of Guardiola’s profession.
The sight of Werner breezing previous a heavy-legged Kyle Walker within the lead-up to that fourth purpose was a reminder that Rodri’s absence just isn’t Metropolis’s solely situation proper now. “This is more than just Rodri,” mentioned Neville. However its significance can hardly be overstated.
It was compounded, on this event, by an harm to Mateo Kovacic which left a 20-year-old full-back in Rico Lewis and a 34-year-old Ilkay Gundogan as their deepest-lying midfielders.
“They are all great players but who wants to do the dirty work in that midfield?” queried Jamie Redknapp at half-time.
The pair barely misplaced a move and nor did Bernardo Silva, the third member of Guardiola’s midfield. However none of them bought near their counterparts off the ball. Between them, they made extra fouls than tackles. Spurs ran by them – and never only for the targets. Postecoglou’s facet had been excellent from begin to end.
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Metropolis have been right here earlier than, after all.
They’ve clawed again greater deficits than the present five-point hole to Liverpool. And that can stay the case even when Arne Slot’s facet win towards Southampton on Sunday, given Metropolis recovered from 10 factors again to overtake the Reds beneath Jurgen Klopp in 2018/19.
However this time feels completely different. Manchester Metropolis muddled by the primary two months of the season with out defeat however warning indicators have now turn into deafening alarm bells. The blip has turn into a disaster that even information of a brand new contract for Guardiola couldn’t alleviate.
“City lose the odd game here but we very rarely see them outplayed in every department and that’s what we’re watching,” added Neville.
“They look well short, as short as I’ve seen them since the first Pep Guardiola season. I’ve not seen them as bad as this.”
The numbers definitely assist that declare. Manchester Metropolis have conceded 17 targets in 12 video games this season. It’s the similar quantity as 18th-placed Crystal Palace and equates to a median almost 40 per cent greater than even that first, trophyless season beneath Guardiola.
It’s a consequence of giving up greater high quality possibilities. With out Rodri, whose absence has turn into a psychological situation in addition to a technical and tactical one, they’re far too straightforward to open up. No Premier League facet has given up extra photographs from quick breaks this season. They’re lucky extra sides haven’t capitalised.
They’ve points on the different finish too. Erling Haaland continues to be freakishly prolific. He’s scoring at a better price than final season. However the issue is that on off days similar to this one, when he missed a string of inviting first-half possibilities, there may be no one else stepping up.
The Norwegian has gone from scoring roughly 30 per cent of their targets within the final two campaigns to greater than 50 per cent this time period. Manchester Metropolis’s second-highest scorers within the Premier League this season are Josko Gvardiol and Kovacic with solely three every.
Metropolis’s supporting forwards have supplied a dependable stream of targets in earlier seasons. This time round, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Jack Grealish have just one between them. It’s not sustainable, particularly not with the 33-year-old Kevin De Bruyne’s health ranges fading and Julian Alvarez lengthy departed.
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And but, even their points with goalscoring come again, a minimum of partly, to the absence of Rodri. He wouldn’t have received the Ballon d’Or just for giving Metropolis defensive stability. It is a participant who scored 9 targets final time period, eight of which got here within the Premier League. He has been missed offensively in addition to defensively.
Manchester Metropolis will probably flip to the switch market to discover a answer in January. However there are seven Premier League video games to get by earlier than the window even opens, beginning with a visit to Anfield to face leaders Liverpool subsequent Sunday.
On this proof, issues may worsen earlier than they get higher.
