Football Management is not something for the faint of heart. In a world of unprecedented coverage and social media, allowing fans and pundits alike to instantly advertise their viewpoints to millions, scrutiny has never been higher on those in the managerial hot-seat. Only for the thickest of thick-skinned, they live by the sword and die by the sword. Worshiped one week, castigated the next.
It was only 18 days ago that we were all singing the praises of Manuel Pellegrini. He masterminded a breathtaking victory in Seville, somewhere both Real Madrid and Barcelona have left empty-handed already this season. Tactically, he put not a foot wrong on that night. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Saturday’s tilt with Liverpool. Tactically, he put not a foot right. There is a cliché in there somewhere.
Whilst the basis of the 4-2-3-1 system used by the Chilean was not catastrophic in principal, his choice of personnel proved to be calamitous. Whether there were concerns over the mileage some had travelled during the latest irritating international sojourn, or some foolish prioritisation handed to the midweek trip to Turin is something only he will know. What he surely must know, is that he appeared to gravely underestimate a rejuvenated Liverpool side. Pellegrini lived by his sword, and last night he died by it.
It was a brave choice to leave Fernandinho and Otamendi out from the start, both standout performers in recent weeks. This looked even braver when Eliaquim Mangala was caught hopelessly trying to play offside before clumsily turning a fairly tepid pull-back into his own net. That was just the beginning.
Klopp, famed for his relentless, high-pressing style, prepared a similar basic system, but there were several key differences. His front four of Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana and the returning Milner, pressed from the front and played in a fluid manner, leaving City’s backline at sixes and sevens. They also had a solid, hardworking tandem in central midfield. Something that Fernandinho would have offered Pellegrini.
City were outworked by Klopp’s men. There was only so much the greatly improved Fernando could do alone. Touré was quite rightly hooked at the break. By then it was too late. Liverpool capitalised further on City’s slumber. Firmino and Coutinho combined for goals two and three after yet another schoolboy defensive mix up and some statuesque defending from Bacary Sagna amongst others.
An outstanding individual goal from fit-again Sergio Agüero gave City a glimmer of hope, but the introduction of Delph and Fernandinho didn’t provide a large enough spark. City started the second period with purpose and renewed energy, but couldn’t sustain pressure for long enough. The game became scrappy and bitty, which suited the visitors. Skrtel struck a well-taken fourth, putting the game to bed. City then had Joe Hart to thank for making sure it wasn’t more than four. Mangala and Demichelis had a torrid time, pulled from pillar to post, although they didn’t help themselves. Time and time again they were sloppy in possession, never allowing any kind of momentum to be gained.
It is, though, hard to be too critical of the likes of Mangala and Sagna in the wake of the tragic recent events in their native France, but their inclusion raises some questions. Should Pellegrini have played them given that Zabaleta and Otamendi were both fit enough for the bench? Perhaps that is unfair on the City boss. For what it’s worth though, I wouldn’t have played them, but not only because of what happened in Paris. Sagna has played a number of games this season, and Mangala has lacked form. Demichelis had also had very little game-time to be thrust into a game of this magnitude.
It was evident that City required a leader at the back. Someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, working tirelessly to turn the tide. Disappointingly, they had two of those players on the bench, and a third watching grim-faced from the stands.
All told, Manuel Pellegrini got it desperately wrong. We mustn’t take credit away from Liverpool though. Fully deserving of the three points, they played with the vibrancy displayed by their enigmatic manager on the touchline. Selection errors and numerous poor performances cost City dearly. A rebound is a must in Turin.
Sport is funny, though. I may well be sitting here on Thursday admiring the manager and the team again. Fans and pundits are fickle like that. I hope that any sacrifices made this weekend are made somewhat worth it if City win in midweek. It would certainly spare Pellegrini some, not all, of his blushes. Live by the sword and die by the sword.
