Despite City’s fourth win in a row in all competitions coming on Wednesday night thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne injury time winner, City’s recent defensive displays cannot be overlooked.
While City fans will not be worrying about their team’s attacking play, with the blues scoring fifteen goals in their last four games, I believe Pellegrini’s defensive unit is a cause for concern.
Anyone who knows anything about Man City knows how vital their skipper Vincent Kompany is to them, like a hand to a clock. As well as the Belgian being comfortably the club’s best defender, City desperately need his leadership on the pitch.
Interestingly, City have failed to keep a clean sheet this season without Kompany on the pitch. Kompany, who joined City from Hamburg for the bargain price of just £6 million over seven years ago, has played 525 minutes of football for City this season to date. In that time the blues have only conceded one goal. Whereas without Kompany in the team, 645 minutes of football have been played and a staggering twelve goals conceded.
An evident, huge difference which implies that Pellegrini’s team are far too reliant on their skipper.
Despite City securing a vital Champions League win on Wednesday night which put them in the qualifying places, one point behind leaders Juventus, their defensive display was still worrying at best.
Bacary Sagna, playing at left back in a position he isn’t used to, looked uncomfortable throughout the game. On numerous occasions the ex-Arsenal man got caught out, undecided on whether to push up or stay with his man.
Arguably more worryingly for Pellegrini, the fan favourite, Pablo Zabaleta, looked well off the pace in the Champions League game against Sevilla. He, like Sagna, was caught on numerous occasions in no man’s land which resulted in the Sevilla winger often having far too much time to get a ball into the box and attack the City goal.
The pairing of Mangala and Otamendi in the centre of defence in the absence of Kompany has looked far from impressive. Otamendi, sometimes too relaxed on the ball, has hardly had time to settle into the English league though. Mangala, on the other hand, has had over a year now in sunny Manchester.
The Frenchman, Mangala, seems to have a knack of simply not getting tight enough to his man when defending in and around the penalty area. He allows his opponent too much time and room, this was shown on Saturday when he didn’t get tight enough to Glenn Murray; the ex-Crystal Palace gladly took advantage and powered the ball into Hart’s net. Although, he looks so more calm and collected when he is paired with the City skipper, Vincent Kompany. This is likely to be the pairing which lines up against third- placed Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
You may think after reading this that I am being extremely negative, after all City have won four in a row. However, I just feel Pellegrini’s team are just far too reliant on their captain. Furthermore, sooner or later a team will take advantage of City’s defensive liabilities if they are not corrected.
Personally on Sunday I would line up with Sagna at right back, he has been one of City’s most impressive players so far this season, much improved performances compared to last year. In the centre, I would try and gain some solidity by pairing Kompany and Mangala. At left back, I would bring Aleksandar Kolarov back into the team.
City will look to keep their first clean sheet in eight games in all competitions on Sunday at Old Trafford and more importantly get a win against Manchester United which would increase City’s lead at the top of the table.
