Sometimes you don’t realise how valuable something is until it’s gone. That should be Pep Guardiola’s situation, given how Oleksander Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, and then Joao Cancelo have left his squad short-handed.
Man City is currently lacking in a few positions, most notably the left back position recently vacated by Joao Cancelo. According to Ally McCoist of talkSPORT, City must be regretting selling Zinchenko to Arsenal now more than ever.
“Manchester City made a mess of things when they decided to sell Zinchenko to Arsenal. The Ukrainian was one of their best players last season and to sell him that easily and place Cancelo there was a big mistake. Now that Cancelo is gone the club is really struggling and that mistake is going to cost them the league title,” remarked McCoist.
“There’s just something not right!” 😱
❌ “You can’t get rid of Zinchenko and Cancelo, and not play a natural left-back..”
Ally McCoist questions Pep Guardiola’s decision making so far this season. 👀 pic.twitter.com/NqqP5oCgYr
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 6, 2023
Zinchenko has demonstrated in recent weeks what a transfer coup Arteta accomplished when he brought him on board last summer. He’s untouchable at left back. His playing style differs from that of a traditional fullback, who only plays through the flanks. Zinchenko’s brilliant technical ability allows him to play the ball through the midfield and link up with attacking play, allowing him to weaponize Arsenal.
I’m sure Pep looks at Zinchenko flourishing at Arsenal and wonders, “How did I let him go?”
Daniel O
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Yes I’ve posted the same thought here before regarding both GJ and OZ.
The reason all of these guys (including Cancelo) left City though was because they didn’t see themselves getting enough game time.
It’s not only Guardiola or the club that has a say in these matters, if he can’t reassure a player that they’ll get the time on the field that they want (or at least that they’re likely to get time, assuming they’re in good form etc) then the player will ask to leave.
GJ would’ve realised that Haaland would be the first choice striker when he arrived – not sure that’s working out either, I suspect Guardiola is wondering if he did the wrong thing there as well.
My personal feeling is that Haaland would be a better option for a team that plays defensively, creating a constant goal threat and keeping the opposition from pressing too high. In that sense, Man Utd would be better than Man City.
With their squad now down to 19, City seem to be more at risk from lack of cover than Arsenal – but it’s all a matter of luck, if someone important goes down injured it can damage your season.
News now saying that Haaland has asked his lawyers to get his release clause brought forward.
It’s currently set at £175m due to come into play in summer 2024. He’s asking for it to be brought forward to summer 2023.
The official reason given is that Guardiola’s playing style doesn’t make best use of his skills. I dare say the real reason is the troubles City are about to face with the 113 PL charges.
So it seems the rush for the exit has started.
IDKWIC, IS THIS OFFICIAL NEWS OR JUST A “REPORT” FROM A DODGY SITE?
If its definitely true then that is a game changer for how things will soon go at City. If not, then its just another false rumour.
I would love to know WHICH it is.
Clearly City isn’t going to announce something like that, which is what it would take to make it official. Such negotiations will be done behind closed doors, we’d only hear about it at this stage if some office junior leaks it or something.
It was reported in a couple of papers I read and seems to have originated in some Spanish thing called Defensa Central.
Since it made it as front page news, not sports section stuff, it *seemed* to have been given a little extra credibility but like all such reports… make of it what you will, take it with the usual fistful of salt 🙂
For me, it sounds like the kind of thing that could very well be happening over there under the circumstances.
It may have started from Cancelo leaving
Without taking anything away from Zinchenko, I believe we have a better LB in Kieren Tierney – not only as a defender, but also in allowing Martinelli to play a much better role.
Having said that, I agree with the author that Pep made the wrong decision.
I cannot believe that Haaland is already regretting his decision and, perhaps, an injury or two would see city in real trouble.
Yes Pep Guardiola will miss a player like Zinchenko.
Though the Citizens are blessed with an abundance of world class talents, their biggest strength is in team work, like Xhaka, Jesus and Zinchenko are two very good team players.
With the Citizens now playing to Haaland strength they are a little less dangerous and more predictable.
Ironically the Citizens are a weaker team with Haaland but that’s just my opinion.
Gunsmoke, No, its not just YOUR opinion.
It is also mine and I SUGGEST MANY OTHERS TOO!
One thing for certain, you will never hear Pep regretting any decisions he has made to the media.In private he may indeed have regrets but they will not surface, until he writes his autobiography, which will be a very interesting read.
I don’t believe that Pep regrets selling Zinchenko.as he repeatedly says,he doesn’t like to have players around who want to leave.he explained that if the fee is right he’d rather sell. As for for Zinchenko and Jesus whom he called”very good servants” to the club,he said they had earned the right to choose their next destination/project.that’s why he didn’t oppose to it, when they asked to leave(which I find commendable).