Success in the Super Cup Cannot Hide Cracks in Manchester City's Exterior

 Success in the Super Cup Cannot Hide Cracks in Manchester City's Exterior


The triple champions of Manchester City have acquired additional hardware, but a UEFA Super Cup victory against Sevilla merely highlighted certain weaknesses in Pep Guardiola's team.

The treble champions of Manchester City have added more hardware to their trophy case, but a UEFA Super Cup triumph against Sevilla merely highlighted certain weaknesses in Pep Guardiola's group ahead of yet another challenging season. Sevilla, who placed 12th in La Liga last year, started their campaign last weekend with a humiliating 2-1 home loss to Valencia. However, the Europa League champions ought to have brought home another European title from Athens. The Spaniards took the lead in the first half thanks to a header from Youssef En-Nesyri, but the Moroccan was guilty of blowing two excellent opportunities in one-on-one situations with Ederson after the break.

The loss of goals from midfield brought on by the exits of Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan since the end of the previous season has been made worse by De Bruyne's four-month absence due to a serious hamstring injury.


Cole Palmer now gets a chance to have an effect on the first team because of Mahrez's departure from Saudi Arabia.

After capping off a strong individual performance, the England Under-21 international's headed equalizer earned him game-winning honors.

After the game, though, Guardiola was far from certain that even Palmer would be a member of his team after the transfer window ends on September 1.

As a makeweight in City's pursuit of Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta, a move to West Ham has been suggested for him.

"I don't know (if he will stay)," the City manager remarked. "When we got there (in Athens), I thought he wanted to go, but now I'm not so sure.

"I don't believe a loan will be granted. He will either remain or will be sold.

tough schedule

Guardiola just made one change when Palmer was replaced late on by Julian Alvarez in the scorching heat of the Greek capital.

Along with defending its titles in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup, City is also competing in the League Cup and aiming to win the club's first-ever Club World Cup in December.

Guardiola lamented his team's lack of preseason practice time and attributed a string of significant injuries early in the season in the top European leagues to a demanding schedule.

After sustaining anterior cruciate ligament injuries, Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao of Real Madrid may have already seen their seasons end.

Jurrien Timber, a new $40 million defender for Arsenal, Tyrone Mings, and Emi Buendia of Aston Villa have also sustained comparable wounds.

Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea had knee surgery due to an injury sustained on a subpar playing surface during a pre-season friendly in Chicago.

"Look at all the cruciate ligament injuries that have occurred at the beginning of the season in all the major leagues. In the lead-up to the Super Cup final, Guardiola stated that the players don't get enough physical or mental rest.

The players are injured, or will get injured, since they don't have these 25 days to prepare because they are forced to travel to Asia or America (on preseason tours), and play incredibly hard games on terrible fields.

To improve team spirit and togetherness, Guardiola has always preferred to work with a small group of players.

City wants to become the first team to ever win four straight top-flight matches in England.


Only at JioSaavn.com can you listen to the most recent music. However, if they don't make any further acquisitions, they can end up being overextended in the upcoming months, giving the Premier League's chasers hope.

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