The fourth goal for Manchester City had only statistical value shortly before the end of the game. Nevertheless, players and fans celebrated the goal, which was initially denied due to an alleged offside position. The joy at the goal is less likely to have come from the gloating over the 4-1 (2-1) defeat of neighbors Manchester United than from the feeling that every goal could actually matter this Premier League season – in the championship race Liverpool FC.
In the past few weeks, leaders City have allowed their rivals, who seemed to be left behind at the beginning of the year, to catch up with a few avoidable point losses (1-1 at FC Southampton; 2-3 against Tottenham Hotspur). Before the direct showdown in Manchester in April, the two clubs at the top of the table are currently only separated by six points. Second-placed Liverpool could even overtake on their own with a catch-up game and with the marginally better goal difference.
City coach Pep Guardiola therefore rated his team’s starting position on Sunday as “an apparent advantage” over the competition. He feels, Guardiola said, that his team need “almost all the points” in the remaining ten games to retain the title and reach their fourth championship in five years. But if a club in England can put down such a flawless final sprint, it is probably the city that already managed a terrific series three years ago. Back then, Guardiola’s side won all 14 league games from February to May, relegating Liverpool to second place by a point. City have already had twelve consecutive Premier League successes this season.
Hard to believe, but true: Manchester City misses many chances. It’s Kevin De Bruyne here – but the Belgian still scored twice against local rivals United.
(Foto: Simon Stacpoole/Offside Sports Photography/Imago)
Behind the sometimes overwhelming dominance is a game choreography that has become automatic, in which City generally hardly ever loses the ball. Even under the greatest pressure, every player knows where their colleagues are positioned on the field and at the same time has the technical skills to pass the ball on without making a mistake. In this never-ending football mill, where precision and patience reign supreme, there was no way out for United. Wherever the arch-rival closed a gap, one seemed to open up again immediately elsewhere. And so the pitiful United players ran their feet sore for an hour until, with the inevitable onset of fatigue, they became a pawn for City – and the laughing stock of the island’s usual polemical press.
City’s showpiece is the attacking midfield around Kevin De Bruyne, which is always a dangerous goal
Between the 71st and 86th minute, City dominated the game with a monstrous 92 percent possession. the Times therefore blasphemed that it was “remarkable” that both clubs are still considered “neighbors” where they are “so far apart” in sporting terms. He judged in a martial way as usual Telegraph United’s defeat as “surrender and collective embarrassment”. City deliberately let United “run” at first, Guardiola explained, before his team exploited the opposing fatigue for a second half “of the very best kind”. Kevin De Bruyne (5’/28′) and Riyad Mahrez (68’/90’+1) each managed a brace, with De Bruyne initiating the third goal with a spot-on corner kick. As a result, the Belgian now has 88 goals (37 goals, 51 assists) in 100 Premier League home games.
Compared to Liverpool, who have a trained goalscorer in Mohamed Salah (19 league goals), there is no attacking specialist in the City squad. Instead, the goals are mainly distributed among a lot of midfield professionals: So far, six players from this part of the team have scored at least five goals. And without strikers, but with six ball-safe offensive players, City also demoralized the record champions, who were now 22 points behind and slipped to fifth place.
What will Rangnick do once Cristiano Ronaldo feels fit again?
Guardiola’s plan wanted to counter United coach Ralf Rangnick with the idea of mobilizing the powerful playmaker Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba as a double. However, it is not entirely clear whether Rangnick wanted to sacrifice the weak Cristiano Ronaldo as a striker – or whether he had previously signed out of Rangnick because of hip problems. At the press conference, Rangnick diplomatically stated that “the doctor” informed him of Ronaldo’s complaints on Friday and Saturday mornings.
In any case, United played their best game of the season until the long-injured and therefore exhausted Pogba was substituted in the 64th minute. In addition to Jadon Sancho’s (22nd) brilliantly combined equalizer from within his own half of the game, United, who were attacking far up front, had considerable scoring chances that would have justified a lead at half-time. Even Guardiola admitted that United had acted “very aggressively”, which was only possible “without Ronaldo” in this way.
This puts Rangnick in the complicated situation of basically having to deprive his superstar Ronaldo of his regular place – before the two important home games against Tottenham in the league and Atlético Madrid in the Champions League (first leg 1-1). But the then inevitable public outcry from the Portuguese could hardly be burdened with the team.
In contrast, the opposite question arises at Manchester City after the club lost out in courting for Ronaldo in the summer: Can the Guardiola team survive in the Premier League title race without a real attacker? And especially in the Champions League, which the club is still trying to win for the first time (and on the sixth attempt with Guardiola)? Because perhaps the greatest weakness of the team is still the omission of top-class scoring chances – this time again, despite the 4-1 win over the neighbors.
