Man City have ‘massive problem’ after Champions League win, Guardiola disgusted
Man City have a major issue after Pep Guardiola was left fuming in their crucial Champions League win over Club Brugge, Danny Mills has said.
With Kyle Walker having fallen out of favour and now at AC Milan, Matheus Nunes has stepped out of his natural central midfield position to fill the void at right-back in recent weeks.
He has though struggled in that position, and Mills has previously questioned why the 26-year-old is playing in that position when Rico Lewis is still at the club.
Clinton Morrison also questioned Guardiola’s selection of Nunes at right-back ahead of that must-win clash with Brugge for Man City on Wednesday night (29 January), where those fears were proven correct.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Special as the Premier League champions fell behind just before half-time in that game, Mills said (29 January, 8:44pm): “They’re on a counter-attack here, Oh! It’s a goal! Brugge 1-0 up. It’s Tzolis again down that right-hand side on the counter-attack.
“Guardiola walks away shaking his head but I have to say it’s exactly what they deserve. Four or five times they’ve got in down City’s right-hand side.
“I gave Matheus Nunes a bit of stick last week about not being able to play right-back, getting caught out time and time again. It’s happened tonight already on three or four occasions.”
Man City would fight back in the second half to claim a 3-1 win, meaning they now face a play-off against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich for a place in the last 16.
Mills believes Nunes would be left exposed against either of those sides, and has also questioned if a new signing would even be able to rectify the issue after Abdukodir Khusanov’s ill-fated debut against Chelsea last weekend.
Speaking about the right-back issue Guardiola has after the game, the former England international added (10:16pm): “City have got a massive problem at right-back. Matheus Nunes cannot play right-back and he’s not gonna be able to play right-back against Vinicius Junior, that is for sure.”
After new signings being registered was raised as a possible answer, Mills continued: “Well we saw what happened there at the weekend [Khusanov], that weren’t great was it? Not the greatest of endorsements.
“Or Bayern Munich, it could be [Leroy] Sané or anybody like that, they’re gonna have a field day down that right-hand side. City won’t keep a clean sheet in that game.”
Pep Guardiola has big Man City right-back call to make
Football Insider Verdict
Despite the win, it was seemingly a frustrating night all round for Guardiola as he watched his side come from behind against Brugge, even kicking out after they went in front.
The fact the Man City boss did react in such a manner to going behind may not bode well for Nunes when it comes to his time in that position.
It could indicate that he is losing patience with the Portugal international in that role, which could lead to a recall for Lewis.
There is certainly an argument that if the 20-year-old does not start getting opportunities again soon, his future may come under scrutiny in the same way as Walker’s did.
Making this change could therefore solve two issues in one for Man City, solidifying their right-back position and quelling the concerns over what might be to come for Lewis.
Even in victory it does not feel as though Guardiola’s side have answered all the questions currently being asked of them, and so changes such as this may well need to be made.
In other news, a new Man City signing is likely to cost the club more than £100million in total.
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