A penny for the thoughts of Pep Guardiola. The legendary Manchester City manager was back at the Etihad Stadium for the first time since leaving at the end of last season and, finally, announcing you-know-what.
Sporting a flat cap, Guardiola took his place in the stands behind City president Khaldoon al-Mubarak and chief executive Ferran “Not” Soriano, and, certainly, the TV director seemed intent on scrutinizing him – if the number of cutaways was any guide.
Everyone knows where Guardiola stands on the big City scandal; the numerous guilty verdicts handed down to them on more than 100 charges brought against them for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules. He supported his former employers to refute them in one way or another. But what did he think of his old team here against the might of reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain?
Not much in the first half would have been a reasonable conclusion. PSG played a higher level of football and they could have led by more than the three unanswered goals they scored. But if defiance was City’s theme – and that fueled Guardiola’s presence here – they produced plenty more of it in a thrilling second half.
City refused to accept the inevitable. They threw everything at PSG. Erling Haaland ran on adrenaline as City created a flurry of openings. No. 9 was sometimes unplayable; he finished with two goals and a few near misses. City were one goal away from worrying PSG.
The problem for them was when Maghnes Akliouche scored to put PSG ahead 4-1. It meant City’s dream of a stunning fightback was an illusion. What a terrible concession for Gianluigi Donnarumma – and this is not the first time.
It was a spin and burst from Akliouche on the edge of the area and Donnarumma appeared to have pushed the ball upfield. Except it came back down – quite far – and into the net. How did this happen? It was one of many puzzles; the sheer weight of odds was difficult to manage. PSG even kicked a late penalty from Ferran Torres, who went in; his kick was weak and too close to Donnarumma. Did you miss everything, Pep?
City must be playing under a cloud, certainly until their appeal against the charges is complete, and they come up against a PSG team that flickered with menace. Luis Enrique’s starting XI included seven players who are on the list of 30 finalists for the Ballon d’Or. The coach had three others among his substitutes, including João Neves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
PSG bristled at their trademark confidence on the ball; the beautifully grooved suits. No matter how narrow the spaces are. They step back to get out of it. Witness the opening goal and some scintillating team play that started deep down the right side of their defensive third.
In the blink of an eye, PSG moved up the flank then opened the movement, Fabián Ruiz making the final pass to Désiré Doué on the left. The winger cut inside and fired low for the nearest corner from outside the box. It was the precision that made the difference for Donnarumma, even if the former PSG goalkeeper had to do better in his position.
When PSG landed the next punch just 75 seconds later, City were in shock, the home crowd stunned. A goal scored by two crosses, the first from Ousmane Dembélé towards Doué on the left. He recovered the ball and crossed for Dembélé, who infiltrated behind Marc Guéhi. The race was so cute, the head simple.
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It was no exaggeration to say that PSG could have had five at the break. City had no defense against their cuts and thrusts; the rhythm, the fluidity of the positions too. Achraf Hakimi seemed to play almost everywhere except right back. He appeared in the penalty area in the 32nd minute to send a free header against the post, but City were quickly disillusioned with the idea that the danger had passed.
PSG gets the ball back and goes for the jugular again. Akliouche was involved, there was a nice back pass from Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha scored a low shot. When Hakimi missed a one-on-one with Donnarumma in the 39th minute, it was as if his team were playing City.
Enzo Maresca made a triple change at the break, bringing on Matheus Nunes, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Iliman Ndiaye – and the effect was immediate. City played carefreely. Their toothless first half was forgotten. Enzo Fernández missed a golden headed chance and Ndiaye made Matvey Safonov work before Haaland pulled one back. It was a whipped ball from Ndiaye, which Haaland sent into the far corner with a flex of his neck muscles. He wasn’t close either.
Could City grab the lifeline? Antoine Semenyo ran and hit the crossbar. The offside flag was raised, although it appeared to have been level. City needed the next goal to make it interesting. Instead, they lost the initiative after another failure from Donnarumma.
It was the start of a lightning final. Josko Gvardiol saw a header cleared by Nuno Mendes, Fernández rattled the outside of a post and Haaland slammed a header against the top of the crossbar before scoring again – a low finish after good work from Bouaddi. Haaland was denied the hat-trick when he stretched to push Nunes’ cross on goal – it was an excellent save from Safonov – and City finished with 27 shots and 52 touches in the opposition box. Those numbers would be good enough for victory most nights. But not this one.
Gn sports
