Personnel issues thwarting Manchester City’s chances of silverware

Personnel issues thwarting Manchester City’s chances of silverware

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Manchester City had started the season in blistering form, winning their opening five games on the trot.

But injuries to key players seemed to take the wind out of their sales as the Citizens began to falter. Their away form in particular was disappointing as they failed to win any of their away games from September right up until January. During that period, the Sky Blues managed just two away goals while letting in eight.

City had also made some big signings at the start of the season, spending nearly £130 million on just three players. The signings of Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi showed that the club meant business and expected to have a successful season. But inconsistency, injuries and poor form have not allowed any of the three signings to make any sort of meaningful impact. While De Bruyne has had a decent season, a knee injury has ruled out the Belgian for the past few weeks and is only expected back in April.

Sterling has been stop-start throughout the season, with the youngster producing some memorable performances while struggling to get into the game on other occasions. Otamendi has been below par for most of the season, putting in some woeful defensive performances on more than a few occasions. He has formed a forgettable centre-back partnership with fellow Argentine Martin Demichelis, who has been equally if not even worse than Otamendi.


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Another who has been well below standards this season is Yaya Toure, who has barely performed to even half of his abilities. Toure started the season off well but his form soon deteriorated. He did enjoy a short period of form during the end of December and the start of January but has faded out since then.

Underwhelming: Yaya Toure is a far cry away from his formidable best.
  Underwhelming: Yaya Toure a far cry from his usually formidable best

In the absence of skipper Vincent Kompany, City have evidently struggled at the back and have let in 28 goals in the league so far. Eliaquim Mangala has also missed a fair share of games, yet to appear since the start of January. With their defensive problems worsening, it would have made sense for the club to strengthen in that area during the January transfer window, however nothing panned out.

Of course, the major reason for City’s failure in the winter transfer window is down to the fact that the club announced the appointment of Pep Guardiola for the next season. The announcement left Manuel Pellegrini stranded with his current crop of players as the club would ideally look to bolster the squad in the next transfer window, when the Spaniard takes charge at the Etihad.

Questions were asked when the Guardiola announcement was made. What impact that would have on the team for the rest of the season? Pellegrini now has no pressure on him at all, even with his team still involved in all four competitions.

The Citizens currently sit in fourth position in the league, four points behind second and third place and six points behind leaders Leicester City. While fourth place would not be the worst finish considering how this season has unfolded, it would mean that City will be involved in a qualification play-off for the next season in the Champions League. The Manchester club has not finished outside the top three in the last five campaigns and will surely be hoping to stretch that run.

Apart from all the negatives, City also have a number of positives to look at this season. Despite his injury concerns, Sergio Aguero has still managed 14 goals in the league this term. The club is still in line to win all four trophies this season and if it does mange that, it would certainly cap off a memorable tenure for Pellegrini.

The next three games will be vital, defining for City’s season.

First, they must navigate a visit to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round tie, before facing a tricky trip to Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions league round of 16. Following that, they head to Wembley for the Capital One Cup final against Liverpool. Even though Pellegrini knows his days are numbered at the Etihad, the Chilean is experienced and professional enough to guide his team to success.

Do City have it in them to end the season with silverware?

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