Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca Post-Match Analysis
Honestly, I thought that Man City would have been able to score more than two goals, as I believed Manchester City’s individual quality would be enough to overpower the Moroccan side. Instead, Wydad actually created some chances of their own and could definitely have scored at least one. I was very disappointed with the performance, but with a heavily rotated team and key players such as Haaland and Rodri not starting, I am willing to make an exception for this one :)
Assessing the Debutants
As Aït-Nouri did not manage to get onto the pitch for this game, I will only focus on Cherki’s and Reijnders’ performances.
I was dazzled by Reijnders’ quality, as he slotted into the team like he had been wearing a Sky Blue shirt for years. He had lots of responsibility during this game, as he played as a single pivot. This position is very hard to execute, as it means that instead of a double pivot, where you would always have a midfield partner to combine with, Reijnders had to link defence and attack while also winning duels in the middle of the park. I was very impressed with his performance, and the cherry on the cake was his unbelievable attempted De Bruyne-esque through ball, which nearly made its way to Doku but was cleared away at the last second. This game was a perfect showcase that highlighted both Reijnders’ defensive and offensive ability, as he would regularly drop deep to pick up the ball from a goal kick and bring it forward. When he drove forward, his decision-making was superb and he barely slipped up. Playing with Rodri this season will allow him to express himself in the final third, as the Spaniard is more than happy to act as the anchor of the team and stay back to prevent the counter-attack, which would give the Dutchman the license to move forward.
Taking into account the high expectations placed on Cherki when he joined the club, even he would likely classify his debut as underwhelming. He seemed off, his first touch was inconsistent, he repeatedly gave away possession and he was unable to complete passes that he would have comfortably made at Lyon. This match was most likely a case of first-game nerves. Anyone who judges him purely on this performance will definitely regret it, as I am certain Cherki has much more to offer. It is only a matter of time before the whole world sees him unleash his full potential.
For example, when Haaland joined Manchester City, his debut was against Liverpool in the FA Community Shield final. He missed an open goal and played poorly, and many began to doubt him. Yet, he went on to win the treble, claimed the Premier League Golden Boot, and finished as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or standings. I strongly believe that Cherki is far better than what he showed in this match. Once he settles into the squad, everyone will be able to see how dangerous he can be for the other Premier League teams.
Foden Back to His Best
Picking up the ‘Superior Player of the Match’ in this fixture, I was delighted to see how Foden performed. He looked hungry, chasing down opponents like a cheetah hunting its prey, and never stopped running. It seemed as though he was finally enjoying his football again after such a long time. He scored the fastest goal of the tournament so far and also provided an assist, delivering a brilliant corner which led to Doku poking the ball home. I hope Foden can use this excellent performance as motivation, and that it boosts his confidence so he can start the Premier League season with a BANG!
New Season, Same Bad Habits
With Manchester City barely surviving this season and only just managing to sneak into the Champions League spots for the upcoming season, I thought the first thing Pep would look to fix was how vulnerable City were in transition. In countless situations, City gave the ball away high up the pitch, and the back three, Reis, Aké and Lewis, were exposed against Wydad’s front three.
O’Reilly inverting and playing as a midfielder when City had possession consistently left the left wing open for Wydad to exploit. Amrabat, arguably one of their best players, repeatedly found himself in space on that flank with time and room to drive forward. City narrowly survived these counter-attacks, and if they had not been as fortunate as they were, Wydad could definitely have scored one or two goals.
This is a serious issue Manchester City need to address. If they do not, stronger teams in the Premier League will take advantage and the Boys in Blue will be punished.