MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City's surprise run of three defeats in four games, the latest in Wednesday's (Dec 26) 2-1 defeat at Leicester City, has been widely attributed to one simple cause - the absence of defensive midfielder Fernandinho.
Yet, while the Brazilian's injury has clearly dented their Premier League title defence, given the absence of any effective replacement to shield their defence, City's woes run deeper than the loss of just one individual, however influential.
The defeats at Chelsea and Leicester and at home to Crystal Palace, with only a home win against Everton limiting the damage, have seen Pep Guardiola's champions fall from being clear favourites and leaders to third place.
They are now a point behind Spurs and seven behind top side Liverpool, who visit the Etihad on Jan 3.
Last season's record-breaking title win was built on remarkable consistency, in results of course but also in terms of the starting line-up and approach.
Yet while the inevitable injuries picked up through a season did little to knock City off course last term, this season Guardiola has had to deal with not just the recent loss of Fernandinho but also of several key players at the same time.
David Silva missed City's last five games before returning at Leicester and his importance to the team's trademark style was certainly highlighted in the recent losses.
For what Fernandinho provides in solidity, defensive protection and the ability to stop counter-attacks and opposition momentum, Silva matches as the essential link in the short, quick passing game which makes City so hard to defend against.
Silva not only provides goals and assists, but brings out the best in those around him, particularly wide players Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, who have both been out of sorts in recent performances.
Sane and Sterling know that when Silva has the ball, the Spaniard, with his supreme reading of angles and timing, will find them if they make a move.
Without Silva, they have too often received the ball when stationary, allowing defenders time to set up and nullify them instead of finding themselves on the back foot being attacked with momentum and impetus.
Kevin De Bruyne is another to have only recently returned from long-term injury and, while City initially coped with the absence of the Belgian central midfielder, they have missed his ability to swiftly turn defence into attack with a surging run or sweeping pass.
Much of the focus on City's improvement last season was placed on the full back positions but with Benjamin Mendy injured, Fabian Delph has, of late, rarely looked much more than an adequate replacement.
Worse, England defender Kyle Walker's form has been shaky and he paid the price for a poor performance in the 3-2 home defeat to Palace by losing his place at Leicester with Danilo preferred at right-back.
The defence is no longer as solid, the midfield has missed key elements and the forward line is not operating anywhere near full effectiveness.
"What we have to do is try and change the dynamic to winning games. We are able to do that but I have to reflect myself, think about what the team needs and try to help them," said Guardiola.
"That is what will concern me for the next few days. Good results are miracles for the mind and I have to help the players come back, change something and try to win again."
A trip to Southampton is next on Sunday and, with Spurs and Liverpool in full flow, City can ill-afford another stumble if they are to avoid a poor December becoming an irretrievable slump.
Football: Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to injury Celta Vigo's Sofiane Boufal (right) checks on Barcelona's injured Ousmane Dembele. PHOTO: AFP
Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to
Earlier, PSG condemned "Patrice Evra's homophobic insults aimed at us on social media" after a bizarre spat in which Evra used the French word "pede", a derogatory term for homosexuals, to
Evra denies homophobia after social media spat with PSG
Messi backs Valverde but admits Barca are still hurting Madrid, Spain: Lionel Messi wants Ernesto Valverde to continue as Barcelona coach but admits the team have not recovered from their Champions League loss to Liverpool as they face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.
Messi backs Valverde but admits Barca are still hurting
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is set to seal a money-spinning move to Italian champions Juventus when his contract expires with the Gunners in the summer, according to reports on Thursday. The
Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey set to cash in with Juventus move
La Liga: Real Madrid end campaign with 12th league defeat With Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos and Thibaut Courtois all sitting on the bench, Betis forward Loren Moron put the visitors in front in the
Football: Real Madrid sink to 10th league loss at hands of
China to host 2023 Asian Cup after Korea withdraws 16/05/2019 16/05/2019 Oman Observer Seoul: South Korea have abandoned their bid to stage football's Asian Cup in 2023, authorities said, leaving the sole other bidders China with a free run to become hosts.
Ozil opened the scoring after just four minutes before turning provider for Henrikh Mkhitaryan to double Arsenal's lead. Lys Mousset briefly gave Bournemouth hope before half-time, but Ozil and Mkhitaryan combined once more to tee up Laurent Koscielny to make it 3-1 before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette rounded off an eighth
Ozil leads five-star Arsenal past Bournemouth - footynews.co.uk
Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight. Crystal Palace to miss Zaha in fifth round tie against Doncaster. Published: February 16, 2019 13:31 AFP. More From Football.
Football: Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight
Zidane Sure Of Ronaldo's Stay. Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid is an unimaginable prospect for coach Zinedine Zidane. The Portuguese star remains the subject of growing speculation over his future, with reports suggesting Ronaldo is unsettled at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Cristiano Ronaldo confirms he is not leaving Juventus
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola predicts his side will "suffer" against fourth-tier Newport County in their FA Cup fifth round match on Saturday but has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade.
Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Premier League title race is something to get excited about rather than stressed about despite seeing his side overhauled by Manchester City in the past week.
Klopp excited by Premier League title fight | Football News
LONDON: Cardiff claim they are shocked by a report that the pilot in the plane crash that killed Emiliano Sala was not qualified to fly at night. The Premier League club said they remain "deeply
Cardiff 'shocked' by Sala pilot report | Free Malaysia Today
Youthful talent gives England a bright future, says Henderson Odoi and 20-year-old Declan Rice joining an England squad already bolstered by the rise of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus
England: Jordan Henderson reveals honest thoughts on West Ham
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
best site to watch live soccer streaming
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch usa soccer live stream
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming now
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch champions league live streaming live
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch the champions league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch soccer game live now
watch soccer aid live stream
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming eng
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch champions league final live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch soccer live stream app
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch premier league games live stream
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch premier league live streaming live
watch live streaming soccer games
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch premier league darts live stream
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
how to watch champions league live streaming
tv soccer live stream sky
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch coppa america live streaming australia
apps to watch live streaming soccer
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch the premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch premier league live streaming video
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch champions league live streaming video
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
#juventus #league2 #liverpoolfans #Barca #footballschedule #jadwalbolahariini #champion #golazo #footballmemes #portsmouthfc #Liverpool #liverpool #leicestercity #watchlive #433skills #leomessi #premierleague #mancityvsliverpool #zinedinezidane #livestreams #soccer #klopp #neymar #liverpoolfc #transfernews #arsenal #americanfootball #liverpoolcity #alissonbecker #lionelmessi #realmadrid #girlsniteout #soccer #sunderlandafc #streamingbolaid #serieatim #myfootballuniverse #soccermemes #freekick #Sunday #bundesliga #kickoff #footballmeme #knuckleball #londoncity #oasis #thebeatles #Suarez #elcasico #kroenkeout #PartyTime #rugby #oasisofficial #cristiano #henderson #commento #championsleague #panini #visubal
No comments:
Post a Comment