Manchester City are really struggling at the moment, and have fallen eight points behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
Manchester City crashed to a shocking 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, and the same issues we’ve seen pretty much all season were on show again.
City were far too easy to play through and were exposed, with Spurs’ speedy attackers really punishing the lack of organisation and general sloppiness.
It’s now five games in a row of losing for City, and Pep Guardiola is seeking to put an end to what is an embarrassing run.
Midfield has been a big area of concern without Rodri, and one player who’s been struggling is Ilkay Gundogan.
His return to the club was hailed by most people. But City fans are concerned Gundogan could be finished at the top level, and Micah Richards admits he got it wrong about the German.
Micah Richards says Gundogan ‘looks half a yard off it’ for Man City
Fans are really hoping that City will be doing some business in January, because it’s been a big area of weakness this season.
City just cannot seem to cope without Rodri, and Gundogan has definitely struggled.
The intention was never for him to play as much as he has. He was supposed to come in as a rotational option given his age.
The 34-year-old just hasn’t lived up to the expectations, and Richards acknowledges the legend just hasn’t been at the races. He said on the Rest is Football podcast: “But I think, I don’t want to say it’s a problem, because I’m not here for clickbait, but Gundogan, when he left, and he’s come back, and he’s not had the same impact.
“I said at the start of the season, I thought it was a masterstroke, because they don’t need to spend six months to a year, you know, someone buying in and learning the system, exactly what Pep wants. Gundogan knows the system, but at this moment in time, he looks half a yard off it.”
Richards comments come after fellow Sky pundit Jamie Carragher said that Gundogan hasn’t looked the same player since returning for a second spell.
Gundogan free transfer hasn’t worked out
Fans are starting to wonder if the Gundogan of old will ever make a reappearance.
Unfortunately, the German has really struggled to make the impact that was expected of him, after returning to the club on a free.
It felt like such a no-brainer at the time. He knew the club, Guardiola and the players and everything pointed to him being a success.
He’s struggled, but there has to be some sympathy for him because he was brought back to be a rotational option. Not to start most games at the age of 34. The injury to Rodri has forced him to play more minutes than his body has perhaps been able to cope with.
Hopefully, City get some new players in in January, and Gundogan’s workload will be more manageable in the second half of the season. Then, we might start seeing better performances.
