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 as Ange Postecoglou’s aspect ran riot within the space of the pitch Rodri usually dominates; an space which has develop 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 cross 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 observe the sport again, beginning, because it did, with Kulusevski powering via 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 received worse for Metropolis, Tottenham’s fourth, scored by Brennan Johnson from Timo Werner’s cross, condemning them to their heaviest dwelling defeat underneath Guardiola.
It was in truth 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 challenge 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 damage 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 cross and nor did Bernardo Silva, the third member of Guardiola’s midfield. However none of them received near their counterparts off the ball. Between them, they made extra fouls than tackles. Spurs ran via them – and never only for the targets. Postecoglou’s aspect had been excellent from begin to end.
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Metropolis have been right here earlier than, after all.
They’ve clawed again larger deficits than the present five-point hole to Liverpool. And that can stay the case even when Arne Slot’s aspect win in opposition to Southampton on Sunday, given Metropolis recovered from 10 factors again to overtake the Reds underneath Jurgen Klopp in 2018/19.
However this time feels totally different. Manchester Metropolis muddled via the primary two months of the season with out defeat however warning indicators have now develop into deafening alarm bells. The blip has develop 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 help that declare. Manchester Metropolis have conceded 17 targets in 12 video games this season. It’s the identical quantity as 18th-placed Crystal Palace and equates to a median practically 40 per cent larger than even that first, trophyless season underneath Guardiola.
It’s a consequence of giving up larger high quality probabilities. With out Rodri, whose absence has develop into a psychological challenge in addition to a technical and tactical one, they’re far too straightforward to open up. No Premier League aspect has given up extra pictures 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 fee than final season. However the issue is that on off days corresponding to this one, when he missed a string of inviting first-half probabilities, 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, at the very least partly, to the absence of Rodri. He wouldn’t have received the Ballon d’Or just for giving Metropolis defensive steadiness. 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 resolution in January. However there are seven Premier League video games to get via 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.
