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The future was brewing, but Pep Guardiola decided his time had not yet come: in the 85th minute of the Premier League top match between Manchester City and Liverpool FC (1: 1) Phil Foden was on the sidelines, ready for its replacement.
Foden, a young 20-year-old, is expected to replace midfield wizard David Silva, who passed away in the summer and is already compared to Andrés Iniesta. He has played four times this season since the beginning. But in the duel with the teacher he had to endure a spectator role. Guardiola did not change him and ordered him to return to the bench. The future had to wait.
The former FC Barcelona and FC Bayern manager has hard work in his fifth year in England. For the first time in his career, he has to moderate a change. It must create the transition between the past and the future. The past is the team with which Guardiola illuminated the Premier League and won the championship twice, precisely in 2018 (with the record of 100 points) and in 2019.
The pillars of this team have disappeared or are losing strength: city legends Vincent Kompany (Belgium) and Silva (Spain) left for their homeland at the end of their careers. Leroy Sané moved to Bayern. 35-year-old Fernandinho and 32-year-old record striker Sergio Agüero are increasingly vulnerable to injuries. Both were absent against Liverpool.
The future should be players like Foden. But his failure to substitute has shown that Guardiola still has reservations about him, at least in the big games. In general, the reconstruction proceeds slowly, despite the unlimited wealth of the owner Sheikh Mansour.
Manchester City had no chance in the title race last season, finishing 18 points behind Liverpool. In the Champions League, the Azzurri once again embarrassed themselves with the almost traditional quarter-final, this time against Olympique Lyon. The club is 10th in the standings this season, behind competitors like Southampton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. At 2: 5 against Leicester in late September, a team from Guardiola conceded five goals for the first time.
All of this shows that Manchester City are nowhere near as good as they were in 2018 and 2019 since autumn 2020. Apart from the position of goalkeeper with Ederson, no part of the team is consolidated.
The defense is just beginning: Aymeric Laporte, long-injured in the preseason and infected with the coronavirus earlier this season, and Rúben Dias, from Benfica, have what it takes to become the strongest center-back pair Premier League. Especially after the serious injury of the Liverpool defensive giant Virgil Van Dijk. In City’s troubled position in the left rear, João Cancelo showed a good performance in the draw against the champions. The defense has not yet proven itself consistently.
In defensive midfield, Rodri is not a reliable replacement for Fernandinho in his second season in England. Against Liverpool he let the ball slip in the furious first half and provoked a dangerous counter attack. Winger Ferrán Torres has shown with weak play that he is far from Sané. But at least: the 20-year-old from Valencia recently indicated his potential with good performances (partly in the position of unfamiliar striker).
What’s missing: a successor for Agüero
In attack, Gabriel Jesus made publicity with a goal that animated Sky Sport, which broadcasts in England, to be compared with Dennis Bergkamp. Jesus should replace the current Aguero in the long run and must dispel doubts about his suitability.
“City are still a fabulous team, but the hardest thing to find is what’s still missing: a natural replacement for Aguero,” Liverpool icon Graeme Souness wrote in his column for the Sunday Times, as proof. : Manchester City have scored 27 goals in their first seven games last season, ten this season alone.
TV expert Jamie Carragher expressed the general assessment on the state of the blues: “There are four or five players who have been the cornerstones of the titles. If you look at the team now, the quality is not the same,” he said after the 1-1 against Liverpool. However, Manchester City were closer to victory. Kevin De Bruyne missed the golden opportunity with his missed penalty just before half-time. “We have only lost one game this season. I am very happy,” said Guardiola. The upheaval proceeds slowly.
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