“The first half would have almost been enough to seal the game. Soon after we were losing 3-1.” Josep Guardiolafollowing the match against Sporting Lisbon – and the 4-1 defeat – analyzed their offensive performance. “We’re having problems scoring, we create and then we concede even when the opponents don’t do much. After the first half we weren’t emotionally stable and in this competition you have to be. A lot of things could have happened at 2-1. Now we’re in a difficult moment in terms of results, but I want to be here, fight and not give up, I like this challenge in front of me.”
A message also for Erling Haaland who missed a penalty yesterday, but in general he seemed much less brilliant than usual. Only one goal in the last five Premier League matches, without both against Sporting and Inter, in the only two “difficult” matches faced by City in this first part of the Champions League. The previous day Guardiola had said that “Haaland didn’t need rest”, but the reality is that, like Juventus, the coach has no alternative but to return to attacking with space.
Last year there was Julian Alvarez, in case, who could make up for difficult moments. His sale had no replacement other than Savinho, certainly not the same type of player (and not even with his current pedigree).