It could be silly to start out pondering there’s an excessive amount of mistaken with Manchester Metropolis, purely on the power of their 1-0 defeat by Tottenham.
Every time Metropolis lose, it’s seen as a disaster. Much more so once they do not rating.
So, a lot has been made about how drawing a clean on Sunday supposedly confirmed how badly they want a brand new centre-forward to efficiently defend their title, whether or not or not they signal Spurs striker Harry Kane.
I disagree on that. Sure, they struggled within the ultimate third towards Spurs and I can perceive why their followers have been upset by their efficiency, however you need to give plenty of credit score to Tottenham for his or her organisation and work-rate in holding Metropolis so quiet.
Metropolis did not have the stable defence we acquired so used to watching final season both, however then it wasn’t their standard again 4 who lined up.
If you take a look at the gamers Pep Guardiola nonetheless has to come back again to all areas of his workforce, there’s completely no want to fret concerning the defending champions going ahead.
We all know that from final season – we doubted them then after they made a sluggish begin, however they got here good and ended up dominating regardless of taking part in and not using a recognised quantity 9 more often than not.
It’s important to do not forget that now. I would not simply take a look at this sport in isolation and assume Metropolis want Kane or another person to have any likelihood of successful the Premier League, in the identical method I would not say they’ve out of the blue acquired defensive points as a result of they struggled a bit on the again towards Spurs.
Why we all know Man Metropolis will bounce again
Ferran Torres didn’t contact the ball within the Tottenham space within the first half. His finest effort after the break got here when he acquired on the tip of a Joao Cancelo cross on the close to publish, however he couldn’t discover the goal
Ferran Torres was given the central striker position for Metropolis towards Spurs, and didn’t make a lot of an affect.
There may be far more to come back from him, I am positive, as a result of he’s solely 21 and has all of the attributes to play anyplace in a entrance three.
At Euro 2020, as Spain progressed by way of the match, I assumed he was excellent on the left or proper. That wider position might be his finest place.
As a back-up centre-forward for Metropolis proper now, he’s wonderful – however I would not need to see him play there each week. He’s a younger participant who’s studying a couple of very tough place.
It is a specialist position that you just develop into and turn out to be accustomed to, like Kane has carried out for years and years and turn out to be higher and higher at it.
I believe Gabriel Jesus is extra suited to taking part in in that place frequently for Metropolis and he’s extra more likely to be the go-to choice as soon as he’s correctly up and working.
Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola says new signing Jack Grealish was ‘glorious’
In fact, if Metropolis can signal Kane, he would enhance their assault from final season as a result of he is a beautiful participant however, with out him, they’re nonetheless going to be there or thereabouts on the prime of the desk.
And, whereas Sunday was a poor consequence for Metropolis, there have been nonetheless some positives for them. Jack Grealish remains to be adjusting to his new environment and team-mates, however he did OK on his debut.
He began off in a midfield three with Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan with Raheem Sterling to the left of him, and he confirmed some good link-up play and rotated his place.
Grealish seemed as assured as ever, demanding the ball and really hardly ever dropping it. He practically acquired in early on when he was fouled on the sting of the field and, though he didn’t hit the heights we all know he can, I nonetheless assume he may be moderately happy together with his efficiency.
It wasn’t the debut he would have dreamed about, however with Metropolis’s high quality and expertise, you simply know they’re going to bounce again rapidly. He shall be an enormous a part of it.
Why Tottenham’s plan labored completely
I do not assume it is honest on Tottenham to simply give attention to Manchester Metropolis’s points and say their assault wasn’t adequate or speak about who they have been lacking, as a result of I assumed it was an impressive show by Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet – particularly in defence.
Japhet Tanganga stood out at right-back as a result of he was placing himself about a lot towards Grealish and Sterling.
However the entire again 4 did brilliantly in one-on-one conditions and their positional play was good. They defended crosses properly and, though Metropolis had a few excellent probabilities early on, they restricted them to little or no in entrance of purpose within the second half.
Spurs have been arrange the best way I would count on, with a three-man midfield defending their again 4, and making an attempt to go away the entrance three up the pitch to play on the counter.
It labored completely and, as the sport wore on, they really seemed increasingly more of a menace.
The group galvanised them and I assumed Lucas Moura was excellent, arguably their finest participant – not simply together with his attacking play on the break but in addition together with his tenacity and defensive work going the opposite method.
That is the type of efficiency and mentality you want from all of your gamers to get a consequence towards Metropolis, on prime of the fitting sport plan too.
Danny Murphy was talking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
