Manchester City’s draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday further highlighted the club’s inability to see games out. The dismal 1-1 really will be looked at in the future as two points dropped rather than a point gained after City dominated Boro over 90 minutes before subsequently conceding a last minute equaliser.
A game that was typical of Pep Guardiola, the Citizens dominated possession, created clear-cut chances and showed solidity in defence. However, his side still managed to let slip a valuable two points in the title race with just seconds remaining.
If City are to challenge for the title, as is widely anticipated, there are some questions they must answer and recertify over the coming weeks. Their frailties are starting to become more striking than ever and unless Guardiola changes another Premier League title will slip through City’s fingers.
With all this in mind, here are FIVE things Guardiola must change over the international break…
Discover the long-term centre-back pairing
Far too many times this season Guardiola has swapped and changed his defenders and defensive systems and, in all honesty, it has cost his team some valuable points.
The Sky Blues have only kept two clean sheets in the league all season, and this is something that needs rectifying over the international break.
At Barcelona, Pique and Puyol were instrumental to his success and should he wish to achieve similar things at City he must swiftly identify which defensive duo will guide him to success.
Aleks Kolarov playing at centre-back and resting Nicolas Otamendi were kamikaze moves by the Spaniard, with no successful side ever being built on a weak defensive unit.
Be more clinical in front of goal
There’s no denying City’s improvement under Guardiola in comparison to Manuel Pellegrini. However, one thing City are lacking is the ability to convert chances into goals at a rapid rate.
Saturday’s draw was the perfect example of a team trying to pass the ball into the goal – exactly like Arsenal did for many years.
If City are to mount a challenge at the summit of the Premier League, those guilt edge chances must be converted by the City front-three. Liverpool are not missing opportunities, and City should be aiming to emulate their North West rivals.
Give youth the opportunity to impress
In the full-back areas, City are too regularly decimated by teams with a fast-paced counter attacking style. Their ageing defenders are a strain on the side, and it’s becoming more apparent to the opposition just where to exploit the Citizens’ weaknesses.
Pablo Maffeo and Angelino are the club’s two most worthy contenders to join the first-team and be given their opportunity to shine.
Maffeo was City’s best player during their EFL Cup defeat to Manchester United almost a fortnight ago, so why has he not be given his chance in the Premier League?
Play De Bruyne centrally, not out wide
There’s no denying Kevin De Bruyne is one of (if not the) the best players in the Premier League, however, the Belgian has consistently found himself playing in a left wing role since the emergence of Ilkay Gundogan.
It’s a nice complaint to have when you’re struggling to accommodate world-class players, but when a player is as instrumental to City’s success as De Bruyne is, then he must be played in a position that he will hurt the opposition more frequently.
David Silva has regularly produced great performances from the left, so Guardiola should be moving Silva to accommodate De Bruyne centrally.
Restore the ‘Fortress Etihad’ tag
For the past few weeks, the fortress that was once the Etihad Stadium has now turned into a sandcastle for teams to come and destroy.
City have drawn their last three home games in the Premier League. Unforgiven on their home turf.
Guardiola’s teams have historically been impossible to defeat at home, and he must ensure his City side restore that infamous tag once again.
