Manchester City’s training ground would have been a place of deep reflection in a week of Champions League quarter-finals which, for the first time in seven years, did not feature Pep Guardiola’s side.
They would have watched with envy but it was a chance for Guardiola to get his side back to boiling point because, if they don’t get their act together, they won’t be dining at European football’s top table next season.
Guardiola said after the United game that he was happiest with how well City worked off the ball. His mantra for success is: hard work comes first. This week will have been spent finding out who the grafters are in the group. Who wants to be a part of the future of my club?
City spent £180million in January on players Guardiola hopes will form the basis of his next great side, but it’s far from clear whether those heads are good enough to wear the crown.
Only one started against United: Omar Marmoush, who is clearly talented but needs to work on his movement. He didn’t offer much opportunity for Kevin De Bruyne to find him.
Guardiola has won titles in different ways but has predominantly stuck to a system with wingers to pin back opposition defences and create a wide canvas for artists like De Bruyne to paint their beautiful pictures.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City face Crystal Palace this weekend in the race for the top five
Guardiola must give back Man City’s old canvas to Kevin De Bruyne against the Eagles
The reigning champions need wingers to pin back opposition after struggling at Man United
Against United, Guardiola moved away from that and packed his midfield with precision passers Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva. But without that trusted structure, De Bruyne was ineffective and the team looked timid.
For the second week running, City will face a 3-4-2-1 but, in Crystal Palace, they meet an opponent who use it far more effectively than United.
Oliver Glasner has been at Palace for a year and now his players understand the system. He has enhanced the creativity brought by Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze, who are free to express themselves.
This is not only a potential dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final but a must-win for City if they’re to make the Champions League. I’m certain Guardiola will go back to using wingers to pin back Palace’s wing-backs and allow De Bruyne to be decisive again.
He might be leaving this summer but De Bruyne can be City’s saviour in their quest for the FA Cup and a Champions League spot — he just needs to be given his old canvas to work the magic once again.
