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Published on 2024-02-07 15:30:00
Former Rangers forward Ally McCoist has identified Manchester City’s defensive vulnerabilities as their only glaring weakness this season. The team has conceded 25 goals in 22 Premier League games, with just one clean sheet in their last 11 fixtures. In the Champions League, they have only managed to keep one clean sheet in six outings. This has led McCoist to believe that City’s biggest flaw so far lies at the back.
A recent example of this was in their 3-1 victory against Brentford, where they allowed a poor goal due to a failure to contain Mark Flekken’s goal kick, allowing Neil Maupay to put the hosts in the lead at the Gtech Community Stadium. Another instance was against Burnley, where the treble-winners conceded a late goal to David Datro Fofana.
McCoist acknowledged City’s attacking prowess but warned about their defensive frailties, saying, “That’s the one thing I would say about City. I thought they were brilliant. Phil Foden in particular was just a different level. Tremendous performance. Brilliant to watch. But they do give you chances.”
McCoist’s observations have rightly turned the spotlight on Pep Guardiola’s side, especially considering they are in the crucial phase of the season. Given Guardiola’s meticulous nature, it would not be surprising if he is already working on a plan to tighten up City’s defense as he did last season. After the 2018 World Cup, Guardiola’s side became nearly impenetrable at the back. With their pursuit of history in the Premier League and the Champions League, another tactical masterplan from Guardiola would be invaluable.
Furthermore, in European competitions, teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal could exploit Manchester City’s defensive weaknesses if they advance past the last 16.
It’s clear that addressing their defensive vulnerabilities must be a priority for City, and they must do so quickly in order to achieve their ambitions in domestic and continental competitions.
Read Original article on Manchester City News
