CITY Pep’s lesson from mauling by Foxes
THE hammering that City took at Leicester in December was a pivotal moment in their season.
And make no mistake, it was a hammering. A 6-0 scoreline would not have flattered the Foxes against a shambolic Blues team.
The fall-out from that game is still being felt, to the extent that when the return fixture takes place on Saturday, it is likely there will be only two survivors from the starting lineup at the King Power Stadium.
Of course, injury has claimed Claudio Bravo and Ilkay Gundogan, who were both in the team, and John Stones is also probably out.
But the shockwaves have fashioned not only Guardiola’s outlook on the English game, but also his view of some of his players.
He spoke in the aftermath of that traumatic defeat his need to adapt his philosophy to the English game, especially pointing out: “Here you have to control the second balls. You have to control that, without that you cannot survive.”
Sergio Aguero was suspended on that fateful day, and he will also be unable to play in the return due to injury.
Fernandinho was also suspended, he and Aguero suffering from the fall-out at the end of their previous game, both red-carded as the 3-1 home defeat by Chelsea ended in frustrated violence.
City will look like an entirely different team on Saturday – and in effect they will be, but for Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.
Vincent Kompany has returned from injury and Leroy Sane, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling watched the debacle from the bench. Meanwhile Gabriel Jesus was yet to arrive in Manchester.
De Bruyne and Silva both had stinkers that day, along with the rest, but have emerged unscathed and will be key men on Saturday.
But the lessons of Leicester have had far-reaching consequences for some.
CLAUDIO BRAVO May well have played on Saturday but for injury, but his unconvincing flap at Andy King’s opener was one in a series of moments which finally saw him dropped a month later.
PABLO ZABALETA Partly to blame for King’s opener and, while not one of the main culprits, he only lasted a short while as first choice right back.
JOHN STONES The low point of his City career, summed up by his disastrous backpass to allow Vardy to make it 4-0. Has slowly rebuilt since then, and is likely to be absent through injury this time.
ALEKS KOLAROV Didn’t quite spell the end of the experiment of playing him at centre back, but should have. With Vincent Kompany back he has been sidelined in recent games.
BACARY SAGNA Asked to play on the left in a bizarre set-up and he paid the price by being dropped for the next two games. Has never quite regained his early-season status as first choice and likely to be released this summer.
FERNANDO The game that sealed his fate with Pep Guardiola. Had shown improve- ment early in the season but he spent this game in a blind funk. Has only made one league start since – when Fernandinho was suspended and Ilkay Gundogan injured.
JESUS NAVAS Was hauled off on the hour mark and only made two league starts in the next three months, until his reinvention as a right back.
KELECHI IHEANACHO It might be odd for a striker to be punished on a day of defensive chaos, but the Nigerian has made just one start since that day, and he was dragged off at half time in that one.