#5 To twist or to turn? Manchester City in a mid-life crisis
Trending
Ahead of the game against Manchester United, former Manchester City and Chelsea player Frank Lampard said, “I’m sure Pep Guardiola has learned more this year, than in any other year of his management, Manchester City obviously have great players – and they’ve added great players – but he demands a lot from his players”.
“There’s a real intelligence factor. Every player needs to know how to move position, change position, play in different positions – and I think he’s asked a lot from them this year. And I think that might be the one thing he’ll look at this year: did I ask too much from this group?” he continued.
The former England international has hit the nail perfectly on the head, Manchester City players look torn in what they should actually do for their team. It is quite obvious, that the team is brilliant on the counter attack, the base on which it was built first by Roberto Mancini and then by Manuel Pellegrini.
The possession game is good, but more than a Pep Guardiola side, they look closer to a Manchester United side under Louis van Gaal. That is not a good sign at all.
On Thursday, Ander Herrera was left marking Yaya Toure for corners and that shows the height difference between the two teams, a tribute to their teams in the last five years. But, the home side weren’t ready to take advantage of it, and that is a tribute to what Pep has done at City.
They have their own style and philosophy, but when Vincent Kompany hits it long from kick off to Raheem Sterling up against Matteo Darmian you know that the team isn’t playing on instinct.
Pep probably needs one more transfer window and one more season, but at the moment, his Manchester City side look like they are suffering a mid-life crisis.
