Manchester City 1 Southampton 1: Five things we learnt from this afternoon’s Premier League clash at The Etihad Stadium
IT’S now five games without a win for Manchester City after today’s 1-1 home draw against Southampton at the Etihad this afternoon.
Nathan Redmond put the visitors into a 27th minute lead after a bad error from £47.5million City defender John Stones.
But Kelechi Iheanacho, who replaced Kevin De Bruyne at half-time, scored what turned out to be the equaliser only nine minutes after entering the field.
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Here’s five things we learnt from the game.
Iheanacho has to start
This may seem like an easy thing to say when he turned out to be Man City’s hero. But The Nigerian striker seems to strike as much fear into opposition defenders as Sergio Aguero does.
His team-mates may often not know what he is going to do next – but it is just this quality that City need up top to terrorise their opponents. Pace, power, and importantly at this time, confidence, means Iheanacho must start.
Kevin De Bruyne is moody and frustrated
It was arguably De Bruyne’s poorest performance in a Man City shirt since returning to the Premier League. While he got into some great positions out wide, the only decent ball he put into the box came from a set piece. In a week where he told fans he was “too tired” to sign autographs, his mood won’t have improved when he was hooked at half time for goalscorer Iheanacho.
Poor Nicolas Otamendi
Pep Guardiola opted to change the formation for this game, and went with a 3-1-5-1, but even with three centre-halves, Otamendi was left on the bench.
The backline included a left-back, still evidently unfit Vincent Kompany, and John Stones, whose error gifted Nathan Redmond the opening goal.
Speaking to many Man City fans, they believe Otamendi is one of the squad’s more underrated players – but questions will be asked if Guardiola rates him at all.
The rebirth of Oriel Romeu
When Chelsea signed Romeu, it was hoped he would become the midfield mainstay for years to come. But Romeu was a rough diamond, and Chelsea didn’t appear to have the patience to mould him into what we saw today.
He won the midfield battle against the likes of Fernandinho, Silva and Gundogan hands down. Even after picking up a booking, he didn’t let that affect his game, and marshalled the visiting defence, winning all if not most of his tackles.
Virgil van Dijk is like the Kompany of old
Vincent Kompany returned to the Manchester City side today, and while you couldn’t say he had a shocker, he was certainly off the pace. Expected after suffering frustrating injury problems over the last few months.
But on the opposing side, Virgil van Dijk played just like Kompany used to. He was commanding, strong, and often burst forward with the ball to launch another attack.
Even after suffering a nasty clash of heads with, you’ve guessed it, Kompany, the warrior signalled to the bench that he wanted to carry out. Southampton’s younger, leaner and fitter version of Vincent Kompany.
