The FA Cup knockout also exposes the biggest weakness of Manchester City. David Alaba of FC Bayern would be the solution for Pep Guardiola – but also an Ajax star.
If only Pep Guardiola could be as well defended as the lawyers of Manchester City…
Yes, then the citizens around the former Bayern coach would be just as successful as they were in their legal action before the International Court of Justice for Sport CAS against the two-year ban on the European Cup.
But the sporting reality looks much bleaker. This has once again been ruthlessly exposed by their recently missed entry into the FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over FC Arsenal. The shoe presses quite far behind.
Throughout the season, the left-back position has proved to be the major weakness in Guardiola’s system. With Benjamin Mendy in this exposed position, the Gunners also suffered greatly. Once again.
What makes it all the more remarkable is that, since taking office at City 2016, perfectionist Guardiola has been searching in vain for the ideal cast for his “left back”, while he himself, in the opinion of his critics, has improved the team on all other fronts.
82 million burned for left-back
Just to remind you: Gaël Clichy (meanwhile near Istanbul Başakşehir) and Aleksandar Kolarov (AS Rome) fell through the trainer’s eccentric at the beginning as well as Oleksandr Sintschenko in the following time and currently the mentioned Mendy does not meet the requirements.
But that’s not all: until last summer and his move to Everton FC, Fabian Delph was also a member of the sky-blue squad – and during his four seasons of play, although a regular midfielder, he has spent most of his time in the left-back defence. With variable performances.