Manchester City are feeling the blues rather than singing them at the moment after they put in another poor performance against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
It appeared as though Manchester City had finally put their troubles behind them when they returned to winning ways by defeating Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Wednesday.
However, they were back to their fragile and uncoordinated worst at Crystal Palace and could only draw 2-2 after twice falling behind.
Though City absolutely dominated possession and scored twice through Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis, a defensively vulnerability cost them again.
It did appear that a winner was on the horizon late on, though, as the Blues pinned Palace into their own box but those hopes ended when Lewis was sent off for a second yellow card.
Though the full-back did lunge in late, he didn’t actually initiate the contact with Trevoh Chalobah, with the Palace man catching him instead, but VAR could not overturn the decision as it was a yellow card offence rather than a straight red.
That was just one of Pep Guardiola’s frustrations at the full-time whistle and he made his discontent known to the referee.
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Pep Guardiola not happy with referee after City draw with Palace
If the incorrectly-awarded second yellow hadn’t already wound Guardiola up, then referee Rob Jones’ decision to blow for full-time certainly did.
City were breaking away, with the pacey Jeremy Doku sprinting up the pitch with the ball, on a late counter when Jones brought the game to a close.
Even though Doku was still in his own half, Guardiola wasn’t best pleased and made sure the referee knew it. BBC Journalist Chris Wise reported: “Pep Guardiola was over wagging his finger in the direction of referee Rob Jones at the end of the game.
“I presume his irritation is two-fold – Jeremy Doku was breaking away when the full-time whistle went, but also he’ll have something to say about Rico Lewis’ second yellow card as well, which appeared a bit harsh.
“It came at a time when Manchester City had Palace pinned in as well.”
When asked in his press conference what he said to the referee, Guardiola replied: “Sometimes I go to the pitch, sometimes I go to the locker room.”
City can’t blame the referee for another poor result
Though the referee’s decisions must be infuriating, they can’t be blamed for another baffling performance and disappointing scoreline.
City dominated the ball with Kevin De Bruyne fantastic and Savinho, Matheus Nunes and Ilkay Gundogan all having some promising moments. On another day they would have scored five.
The biggest problem wasn’t attacking but going the other way. City look so vulnerable to transitions and shaky at the back that now teams have no fear. A weakness has been sensed and it’s being seized upon.
The likes of Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol are not playing well enough and until they get back to their best level, City’s struggles are going to continue.
