Manchester City, considered one of the main contenders for the English Premier League trophy, left the field after losing twice in their first three league matches. This situation raised serious questions among fans and experts.
According to experts, the main reason for recent defeats is errors and disagreements in the defensive line. Despite Josep Guardiola's various changes to the squad, it's evident that the team still lacks complete harmony.
Well-known English coach Neil Warnock thoroughly analyzed the match against Brighton in the third round and sharply criticized the mistakes of some defenders. He emphasized that many shortcomings were particularly noticeable in the actions of John Stones, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Ruben Dias.
In the match against Brighton, John Stones and Abduqodir Husanov started. Husanov committed a foul, and a free kick was awarded. Taking advantage of this, the opponent's players received the right to take a penalty. Stones later failed to pass the ball correctly, paving the way for the opponent to score the winning goal. Dias couldn't stop the attack in time and was late for the rear. "It seemed to me that they acted recklessly in central defense," Warnock said.
In his opinion, Manchester City always strives to control possession, but a lack of confidence in defense gives the opponent a significant advantage. Therefore, the ease with which the entire team fell behind, especially in Brighton's winning goal episode, was regarded as a serious signal.
Special analyses show that Ruben Dias has been losing his composure for a long time, while John Stones and Nathan Ake's advanced age and susceptibility to injuries remain problematic. Young and strong defenders Husanov and Guardiol are currently undergoing injury treatment. If they can't return to normal form before the Manchester derby, Josep Guardiola faces significant challenges.
Furthermore, despite repeated warnings about the need for a right-back, the club has practically taken no steps in this direction. While the squad is being reduced, plans to acquire new players are also visible, but this process is delayed.
Now all attention is focused on the derby. The Manchester City vs. Manchester United match, part of the 4th round of the Premier League, kicks off at 8:30 PM on September 14th. It is expected that the central defense will be of decisive importance in this match.
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