Man City have got £63m transfer priority right after late Brentford collapse
As post-match quotes go, "at the end we could not defend" is pretty blunt, but Pep Guardiola's assessment of Manchester City's collapse at Brentford was pretty succinct.
City had troubles defensively all night at the Gtech Community Stadium, but as Brentford slung in crosses in a bid to rescue the game, their problems got worse.
There were some brilliant individual moments, such as heroic blocks from Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol, but it would have been a travesty if Brentford hadn't scored in that game, given the chances they created. In the end, they scored twice from the 82nd minute onwards to kill the momentum Cirty were threatening to build.
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"They put a lot of players in the box for the crosses, and they are stronger than us in that department for the absences that we have, and they equalised," Guardiola said of the late assault.
He also said: "They put a lot of players there. We were not close because we were tired and after Norgaard arrived and our holding midfielders do not have the skills to defend these type of balls because we have another type of player right now. At the end we could not defend."
It is a failing that has hurt City of late. To be fair, they are missing John Stones, Ruben Dias and Rodri, all of who would make a difference. Dias and Rodri, with their physicality, would certainly strengthen this team.
With injuries biting, City are turning to the market instead to find that depth. In Frankfurt, Omar Marmoush might have been saying goodbye to Eintracht in style. A goal and two assists would be the perfect parting gift if his expected move to the Etihad is finalised in the coming days, although the two clubs continue to haggle over a fee.
Marmoush would certainly add something to the City attack, but they created plenty against Brentford. They thrived on the break, Savinho is beginning to add end product to his dribbling, Kevin De Bruyne looked a lot sharper and Phil Foden is back amongst the goals. Marmoush would give Guardiola more options, but with Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku unused, he isn't short of them and some are beginning to find form.
It is defence that is the bigger issue and the deals for Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis could be just as valuable as getting Marmoush over the line. Khusanov, 20, is set to join from Lens for £33.5m and Reis, 18, from Palmeiras for £29.5m. Both are young and for the future, but given City's defensive problems, they will get chances this season.
The £63m double deal is strengthening a priority position for Guardiola. Teams are sniffing weakness against City and Brentford exploited it. It was crosses late in the game, but they had joy from a variety of methods in an entertaining game.
The arrivals of Khusanov and Reis could give Guardiola more options in midfield. Stones, when fit, might be an option there, as could Manuel Akanji. Both would stiffen the spine of this team.
It is always the way that attacking reinforcements get the pulse racing far more than new defenders. Marmoush's heroics in the Bundesliga on Tuesday added to the excitement, but City's most important deals might already be agreed.
