MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City's surprise run of three defeats in four games, the latest in Wednesday's (Dec 26) 2-1 defeat at Leicester City, has been widely attributed to one simple cause - the absence of defensive midfielder Fernandinho.
Yet, while the Brazilian's injury has clearly dented their Premier League title defence, given the absence of any effective replacement to shield their defence, City's woes run deeper than the loss of just one individual, however influential.
The defeats at Chelsea and Leicester and at home to Crystal Palace, with only a home win against Everton limiting the damage, have seen Pep Guardiola's champions fall from being clear favourites and leaders to third place.
They are now a point behind Spurs and seven behind top side Liverpool, who visit the Etihad on Jan 3.
Last season's record-breaking title win was built on remarkable consistency, in results of course but also in terms of the starting line-up and approach.
Yet while the inevitable injuries picked up through a season did little to knock City off course last term, this season Guardiola has had to deal with not just the recent loss of Fernandinho but also of several key players at the same time.
David Silva missed City's last five games before returning at Leicester and his importance to the team's trademark style was certainly highlighted in the recent losses.
For what Fernandinho provides in solidity, defensive protection and the ability to stop counter-attacks and opposition momentum, Silva matches as the essential link in the short, quick passing game which makes City so hard to defend against.
Silva not only provides goals and assists, but brings out the best in those around him, particularly wide players Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, who have both been out of sorts in recent performances.
Sane and Sterling know that when Silva has the ball, the Spaniard, with his supreme reading of angles and timing, will find them if they make a move.
Without Silva, they have too often received the ball when stationary, allowing defenders time to set up and nullify them instead of finding themselves on the back foot being attacked with momentum and impetus.
Kevin De Bruyne is another to have only recently returned from long-term injury and, while City initially coped with the absence of the Belgian central midfielder, they have missed his ability to swiftly turn defence into attack with a surging run or sweeping pass.
Much of the focus on City's improvement last season was placed on the full back positions but with Benjamin Mendy injured, Fabian Delph has, of late, rarely looked much more than an adequate replacement.
Worse, England defender Kyle Walker's form has been shaky and he paid the price for a poor performance in the 3-2 home defeat to Palace by losing his place at Leicester with Danilo preferred at right-back.
The defence is no longer as solid, the midfield has missed key elements and the forward line is not operating anywhere near full effectiveness.
"What we have to do is try and change the dynamic to winning games. We are able to do that but I have to reflect myself, think about what the team needs and try to help them," said Guardiola.
"That is what will concern me for the next few days. Good results are miracles for the mind and I have to help the players come back, change something and try to win again."
A trip to Southampton is next on Sunday and, with Spurs and Liverpool in full flow, City can ill-afford another stumble if they are to avoid a poor December becoming an irretrievable slump.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 07, 2019, with the headline 'City in seventh heaven with Rotherham mauling'.
MAN CITY 7-0 ROTHERHAM | VLOG | SEVENTH HEAVEN! - youtube.com
Even as many believe Manchester City will maintain the lead on the table till their big win, Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Liverpool is ready to fight for the Premier League title, although he has described their title rivals, Man City, as 'the best team in the world'.
Football: Manchester City owners team with robot-makers to
10-man Arsenal slump in Rennes, Sevilla held Papastathopoulos changed the game as the Gunners slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Rennes on a night of tightly-contested Europa League last-16 first-leg
10-man Arsenal slump in Rennes, Sevilla held - The Huffington
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be favourite to be named Manchester United manager next season because he has restored the club's "culture and identity" after being put in caretaker charge, according to former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says
inewstoday.net/2019/03/solskjaer-has-restored-uniteds-culture-and-identity-says/
Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says former treble teammate Schmeichel. Ross Houston. Solskjaer told a news conference on Friday.
Solskjaer has restored Man United identity, says Schmeichel
Football: Qatar coach to 'isolate' team from Gulf politics at
Gianni Infantino was re-elected as president of the football governing body FIFA for a four-year term until 2023. The 49-year-old Swiss national was elected by acclamation as the sole candidate at the FIFA Congress in Paris.
Breaking: Infantino sole candidate for FIFA presidency in
Football: Lionel Messi backs coach Ernesto Valverde but
Are there direct trains from Derby to London St Pancras International? Yes, it is possible to travel from Derby to London St Pancras International without having to change trains. Use our journey planner above to get direct train times from Derby to London St Pancras International.
London To Derby
AD
Overstock.com | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding
How rivals fans really feel about Liverpool winning the Premier League title. We spoke to opposition fans about Liverpool's chances of winning the Premier League - and how they would feel if it
Man City fans say Blues show perfect qualities to push
Lions hungry for post-raya victory. straitstimes.com. June 07, 2019 5:00 AM Singapore Under-22 striker Ikhsan Fandi is jet-lagged, having arrived from Norway on Tuesday and spending the following day …
Flipboard: Detroit Lions: Is this Michael Roberts' last
Best Football Prediction Site, stakfree24 analysis data from thousands of teams to give you the best football betting tips. Huddersfield end losing run with 0-0
SINGAPORE: The Football Association of luxury138's (FAS) new technical director Joseph Palatsides hopes to translate luxury138's "culture of excellence" to football and wants to do it by building on the blueprint set by his predecessor Michel Sablon.
Australia News, Scores, Schedule, Stats, Teamsheet - soccer
Babel strike leaves Cardiff on brink of relegation Premier League - Fulham v Cardiff City - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - April 27, 2019 Fulhams Ryan Babel (not pictured) scores their first goal as Cardiff Citys Neil Etheridge tries to make the save REUTERS/Eddie Keogh (Reuters) - Ryan Babel
Babel strike leaves Cardiff on brink of relegation - espn.com
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch champions league live streaming now
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch premier league live stream hd
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch soccer game live espn
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch live streaming soccer games
watch champions league live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch soccer games live stream free
watch the champions league live stream
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch coppa america live streaming bola
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch premier league live streaming free
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch premier league darts live stream
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming in india
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch soccer game live now
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch champions league draw live streaming
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch champions league live streaming vf
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch soccer online free streaming live english
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch premier league games live stream
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch premier league live in stream
soccer tv live net stream
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch champions league live streaming bola
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch premier league stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
#hoffenhiem #leomessi #mancity #frasirap #bayern #liverpool #freekick #valcea #Sunday #gunners #noelgallagher #coys #Vip45 #commento #coffeebreak #manchesterunited #roadtrip #frasitrap #bundesliga #realmadrid #meunier #football #rockstar #arsenal #Celtic #oasisandbeatles #panini #liverpoolfc #chocolatecoffee #nutmeg #coutinho #manchestercity #liverpool #alissonbecker #rugby #watchlive #midnight #barcelona #messi #serieatim #insegreto #oasisengland #premierleague #oasisofficial #sixtimes #GarageCafeDxb #kroenkeout #PartyTime #liverpoolfans #fut
No comments:
Post a Comment