Manchester City’s defensive record discussed

A different problem to have this season for MCFC.

Transcript

00:00Looking at Man City's defensive record, it seems like, from a neutral perspective, they've

00:06certainly conceded a few more goals this season. Is Rodri something to do with that, or what

00:11do you put that down to?

00:13It's a good question. One Pep Guardiola was basically asked at the weekend after the Fulham

00:17game. I think a little bit, perhaps, because he is such a huge presence in front of the

00:23midfield. But City have always conceded chances. They've always been a bit vulnerable on the

00:29break under Guardiola, and that just comes with the way that he plays and the way that

00:34he sets up. It's the one little chink in the armour, shall we say. I don't think that's

00:40new in itself, but I think it is surprising the number of goals they have conceded. Eighth

00:46and seven doesn't sound too bad, but when you consider they've only kept one clean sheet

00:50this season, that's really not great. Sorry, this is in the Premier League, I should say.

00:55That's not great. They've kept the same number of clean sheets as Ipswich and Leicester,

00:58which I suppose speaks volumes, maybe, in some ways. And against Fulham in particular,

01:03they really, on another day, could have conceded three or four. Adama Traore, for me, has got

01:07to score at least two of those chances, and you're on to four goals. I think on another

01:10day they could have conceded more against Brentford as well, a couple of weeks ago.

01:16And yeah, so there is that vulnerability there at the moment, and I think he's still trying

01:20to work things out. I think one of the issues is that Kyle Walker hasn't played as much

01:23this season. He has been a mainstay of Guardiola's back for almost, excluding his first season,

01:30but almost since then, since his second season. And he is starting to show signs that he's

01:35starting to slow up a little bit and age a little bit, and his runs in behind have always

01:39been a bit of a get-out for City, that when they play this high line, Walker can sweep

01:43up. So if they can't rely on that, that is going to be a huge change for Guardiola, and

01:47one that City are going to have to work out. Rico Lewis is coming in, playing right back

01:50a little bit more. He seems to me to be a player that has got to be in the team at the

01:55moment, so high are his levels of performance at the moment. So we've just spoken about

02:01Rodri, and it's one that Guardiola is going to have to work out across the season. I think

02:04it's the same with the defence, and it's not a huge, massive concern at the moment, but

02:08all at the same time, he'll want to have a little bit more structure and be a bit more

02:13robust defensively going forward. I think that will also play a huge factor in if City

02:18are going to win the title ultimately.