The key signs that point to uncertainty in Pep Guardiola’s mind after Man City were served shock reality check at Southampton, writes JACK GAUGHAN
Usually by now it’s all settled with a similar pattern. Usually everybody at Manchester City knows where they stand and routines happen that you could set your watch to.
Vincent Kompany making coaches roll their eyes by miraculously recovering from constant injuries to feature in every game before trophy lifts; previously out-of-favour Nathan Ake becoming indispensable at full back; one big-name midfielder finding himself watching from the bench during the run-in.
Not now, not this year, and Pep Guardiola bringing back not one but three players at Southampton is evidence of that. With Erling Haaland’s hamstring, Manuel Akanji’s adductor and Phil Foden’s form, the trio hadn’t started a collective 27 matches before being thrown in on the south coast.
Did it speak to City’s confidence before going to St Mary’s, seemingly destined to all but secure Champions League qualification that now remains in their hands but in the balance, or is Guardiola unsure of his team ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final?
Possibly both and the latter is not normal in the final weeks of a City campaign. Yet then this has been no ordinary campaign, one set to go down to the wire.
The changes may not have given Guardiola definitive answers either. Haaland’s reintroduction took adjusting to, Akanji coming in shifted Gvardiol back out to left back, which loses the thrust of Nico O’Reilly.
Pep Guardiola seems unsure of his Manchester City team, which is not normal for him
He brought back Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Manuel Akanji for the Southampton draw
Does bringing them back display a lack of confidence in his other stars in these latter stages?
Gvardiol and Ruben Dias – the villain of the piece after criticising Southampton’s tactical outlook – had been talking up their partnership in recent weeks but that has now been broken up.
Foden, meanwhile, just looks bereft of confidence and his throwing of arms when Haaland failed to connect with an inviting cross painted the picture of a man who needs a break.
Rico Lewis shone in central midfield during the semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest yet hasn’t returned to that spot. Some (not all) would argue they missed the drive of Matheus Nunes.
Jeremy Doku’s reward for encouraging performances was a place among the substitutes, while Omar Marmoush didn’t receive the call until the 84th minute – despite regularly appearing City’s most obvious goal threat. Guardiola will need to find a way of the Egyptian flourishing alongside Haaland because both are too good to merely observe.
In the short term though, they need this piece of silverware. It’s churlish to say it saves City’s season, because there is no divine right to win trophies every year, but beating Crystal Palace and then finishing in the top five would further put into perspective the standards they’ve set for themselves.
This could be as bad as it gets and yet plenty of those around them would offer up a leg for it. That is how Guardiola has redefined expectations.
‘The way we play is back where we used to be, or it’s getting there,’ Akanji said. ‘So I’m really positive about the next games. I’ve been playing with a lot of pain throughout the season.
‘At one point it was too much for my body. It was when I did the MRI and the doctor was stunned and said I needed surgery… I knew then it was too much.’
Foden appears bereft of confidence and looks like he needs a break from the demands on him
Guardiola must find a way of getting both Haaland and Omar Marmoush into his starting side
City lost the thrust of Nico O’Reilly by bringing back Akanji and pushing Josko Gvardiol out left
Akanji let out a gentle sigh when he mentioned the Club World Cup – City’s “season” could continue until mid-July – and there is time for tinkering then.
Perhaps it’ll be the arena where the manager attempts the latest change in style.
For now, Guardiola may be best doing what he has always done: sticking with the nucleus of a starting XI that has garnered results that got them into a position where victory down at Southampton should have effectively sorted out Europe.
Just to push them over the line.
