Reader has been watching Manchester City’s disastrous start to the 2023-24 Premier League season. They’ve been able to pick up just three points from their last nine available. The team’s home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion exposed their issues, galvanized in a 2-1 collapse. After a dominant first half pace, City collapsed in the second half. This resulted in City’s second loss in three games.
Midfielder Rodri, back after an ACL-dislocated knee injury, said he was upset with the display. He even went as far as to label the current situation Manchester City’s “reality.” He claimed that they are “not where we need to be at” to be competitive. The midfielder bemoaned what he called ‘children’s mistakes’ that cost his side dearly in their last-gasp defeat to Brighton at the weekend.
Initially, Manchester City started strong, with Erling Haaland scoring a deserved opener early in the match. As the contest went on, the team couldn’t keep pace to protect their advantage. Brighton’s energy and forward running exposed City’s defense in the second half, ultimately leading to a collapse that allowed the home team back into the match.
James Milner’s penalty equalized for Brighton after Haaland’s goal, and the match took a decisive turn with Brajan Gruda netting a dramatic winner in the 89th minute. City were unable to hold their lead, exposing deeper issues inside the squad. They squandered chances despite their dominant first-half display and allowed Brighton to seize the momentum late in the game.
Manager Pep Guardiola has continued to put a positive spin on things in the aftermatch, adamantly – and perhaps delusionally – arguing that they are still making progress despite the injuries. He accepted the absence of form was affecting his team’s results yet insisted on his squad’s ability to recover when facing their next opponents.
James Trafford was undoubtedly Manchester City’s man of the match. Despite facing criticism for an earlier error against Tottenham, Trafford retained his position in goal and delivered a commendable performance that included several crucial saves. His impact was felt by nullifying the majority of Brighton’s attacking plays in the first half, showcasing just how essential he is to this team.
The new-look defense quickly proved their mettle by stifling the Brighton attack throughout the first half. As fatigue became an issue during the second half, their weaknesses started showing. City resorted to longer passes after Milner’s equalizer, but this proved ineffective and would be their undoing.
Rodri made a telling contribution on his first league start since injury. He led the team in touches and passes completed. His knack for winning the ball back on several occasions proved just how much he impacted the game’s tempo. Great as his individual display was, Rodri and his colleagues were unable to get themselves a positive outcome.
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