Scale of City task increasingly apparent for Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola would never have laboured under the misapprehension that his job at Manchester City was going to be easy, but the scale of the task unfolding in front of him is becoming clearer by the week.

City suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of fellow title-chasers Chelsea on Saturday, in a match that occasionally highlight the Blues’ strengths, before shining the world’s biggest spotlight on their deficiencies.

City just about came out on top of a cagey first half thanks to a Gary Cahill own goal, brought about by a good Jesús Navas cross into the box. They had chances to extend their lead in the second half, during a period where probing attacking play lead them behind the usually robust Chelsea defence. However, wastefulness proved to be the home sides Achilles Heel too many times, with Kevin De Bruyne twice guilty of missing good chances.

The first came after an incisive City break that saw Leroy Sané making a rare burst through the middle, forcing his opponents onto the back foot. With Sergio Agüero peeling one way and De Bruyne the other, the German picked out De Bruyne who took a touch to steady himself before hitting Thibaut Courtois with his shot. Worse was to come though when, somehow, De Bruyne missed an open net from around four yards out. As the ball rolled across the box to him and the fans were celebrating the seemingly inevitable goal, an unfortunate bounce outfoxed the attacker; his effort hit the bar and went over rather than hitting the net that was practically already rippling in anticipation.

Sergio Agüero, usually the most clinical of strikers, also missed a gilt-edged opportunity. Taking advantage of a defensive mix up, he nipped in and knocked the ball past the goalkeeper but, instead of steadying himself or looking up and finding De Bruyne he took an early shot and only found the defender covering the line. If any of those chances had been taken, City would more than likely have seen out the game.

It’s not an isolated problem. As football writer Richard Jolly pointed out after the match, City have had 72 shots in their last four home games. 23 of those have been on target and only four have hit the net. Of those four games, City have drawn three and lost one.

It isn’t hard to see from that a problem has developed. City often appear hesitant around the box; when the ball is wide there aren’t enough options in the area, and when the ball is central, packed boxes and tight defensive lines are making it hard for them to find space.

Of course, averaging a goal a game would suffice if the team could keep a clean sheet; alas, Pep’s men are incapable of that task right now and the problems were thrown into sharp focus in this game. For Chelsea’s first goal, a clever ball over the top of the box caught Nicolas Otamendi off-guard and the Argentine was subsequently bullied by Diego Costa, who finished well.

The next two goals were laughably easy for Antonio Conte’s table-toppers. The first came as Otamendi pushed up to try and cut off Costa in the middle of the pitch, but misread the situation as the striker turned him and set Willian away. The Brazilian then ran clear of Aleksander Kolarov who might as well have been walking for all that he had a chance of catching his opponent. Willian then slotted in past a hapless Claudio Bravo, whose anticipation of the shot was only matched for incompetence by an absurd lack of footwork.

The third was just as easy as City were essentially undone by a route one goal, Kolarov once again embarrassed for speed as Hazard raced clear and placed the ball into the net.

This was not a tactical undoing of Manchester City. It was not a complete destruction or an indication that Guardiola’s possession based football is not suited to the Premier League. It was evidence that serious changes are needed for him to be able to implement that style, mainly a change of personnel in defence. It is abundantly clear that, despite an impressive start to the campaign, Kolarov is simply not good enough to be in this team. Otamendi, too, is struggling but is less of a write off than his teammate, just about.

City will inevitably suffer more defensive lapses in the coming weeks and months as Pep works out how to get the best of his current charges before he can launch a new recruitment drive in the summer; for now, he has to work out how to get the best of what he’s got.