Manchester City secured an eventful 5-3 win over Yokohama F Marinos in Japan on Sunday, with Erling Haaland scoring twice in the sweltering Tokyo heat.
Pep Guardiola made ten changes at half-time in City’s first pre-season game, giving 45 minutes of glimpses of virtually all of his players on the tour save for Ederson, who remained on the bench, Kevin De Bruyne, who is injured, and Bernardo Silva, who played 30 minutes of the second half before being replaced by Argentinian youngster Maximo Perrone.
So whose achievements were particularly notable among almost everyone present?
Shortly after Yokohama scored their first goal of the night, City’s analysts watched the replays and noticed that a midfielder pushed way too far forward trying to win back the ball, passing him and making it that much harder for those behind him (not that the defense was particularly good, it must be said).
That midfielder was Kovacic and considering he lost the ball to an ambitious through ball attempt from the halfway line, it hasn’t been a brilliant start to his City career following his £25million move from Chelsea last month.
Funnily enough, in his debut 2019/20 season at City, Rodri had to learn to recognize when to press and when to drop, and while the Croatian played a different role here (as a more attacking midfielder compared to Rodri’s holding role), it’s a good reminder of the adjustment many new players at the club have to go through.
(Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP via Getty Images)
Among those unfortunate contributions to the hosts’ first goal, however, there was something else notable: it was Kovacic’s second through ball of the evening, the first coming from around 35 meters and firing behind Julian Alvarez. That didn’t achieve its goal either, but the mere intention of playing a pass like this certainly bodes well.
Guardiola stressed at the end of last season that his team missed “10 to 25” passes to Haaland in the early stages of the season and that he still wants to improve that area even though they won the treble. Even top city players like Ilkay Gündogan and Bernardo missed clear opportunities at Haaland last season – as did Phil Foden in the second half here – so it’s good they have someone willing to try those passes.
It is certain that the more Kovacic gains a foothold, the more precise they will become.
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For Phillips, too, the first half was full of ups and downs. City analysts had their hands on their heads when he miscontrolled a pass from goalie Stefan Ortega; Phillips then received the ball in midfield from the Yokohama keeper, only to miscontrol it again and return the ball directly. The home side scored their second goal with a quick ball from behind – although the defense was again not particularly good.
Phillips then threw in a beautiful cross to set City’s first goal rolling and then scooped the ball off the opposing goalkeeper to give Alvarez the equaliser.
How do you rate that, especially after such a difficult debut season at the club?
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Phillips’ recent documentary, which sheds light on his struggles in his first year at Etihad, has helped win over some fans and many are urging him to make a belated name for himself.
Rodri’s far more confident performance after the break, even at this extremely early stage of the season, highlighted the task ahead for the England international, but stranger things happened. It wouldn’t be just another case of a City player doing well in his second season – Phillips has more ground to gain than Rodri, Jack Grealish, Bernardo and others for lacking minutes last season – but if he turned things around it would be very welcome news.
Phil Foden
City analysts were excited again as Foden raged through the middle. We can expect a lot from that in the coming season as Guardiola plans to use the Englishman in the role of De Bruyne and in the Champions League final he gave a fantastic impression of that as he put in an excellent turn and dribbling but ended it with a tame shot.
That was evident here too, as Foden missed a one-on-one in the second half; And then, after a failed through ball, analysts gestured in a way that suggested the last pass — or shot — just had to be a little better. It’s still early here, too, but if the official staff is that serious about it, they all will be.
(Photo: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
A little later there was another example of analysts’ irritation when Foden turned again and majestically charged forward, but missed the pass to Haaland – exactly what Guardiola wants to improve on.
Unlike Kovacic and Phillips, Foden is a much better known figure and the thought that he could drive through center next season is an exciting thought for both City and England. A bit more sharpness in the last third would go a long way as everything before that is stunning.
Chances are City will sign a right winger to replace Riyad Mahrez in the next few weeks. That’s certainly the intention if the Algerian makes his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli.
But transfers are never safe and after young Rico Lewis’s pre-season performances paved the way for City’s youngsters to earn an unexpected promotion to the first-team last year, you never know if Bobb, who turned 20 just over a week ago, could fill a void if needed.
The Norway winger is exactly what Guardiola is looking for in a winger at this moment – more touches in tight spaces than quick attacks from behind; And he showed that after coming on at half-time, dancing down the right side, cutting inside and lapping a nice cross at the far post that was Mahrez-esque.
(Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP via Getty Images)
He’s got pace too, and City’s wingers certainly can or should have that, but it’s about knowing what to do at the right moment and Bobb certainly seems to have that. And having won the City U23 Player of the Year award for two consecutive years last season with six goals and 17 assists, he’s certainly made his mark with the youth squad.
Guardiola doesn’t want Cancelo in the City squad for next season but at the moment there is no alternative but to continue.
Cancelo nearly lost an easy ball, retrieved it, immediately pulled off a nutmeg and then fired a shot – it sums up why he’s become well-known – compared to the almost mythical solidity of the defenders who helped City’s treble last season, he’s a loner.
He’s more than that, of course, and he got a good assist for Haaland at the very end of the game, but his standing among the fan base and, it has to be said, within the club has gone down.
Guardiola’s praise for City’s ‘right’ defenders after winning the Champions League final, while probably unfounded, highlighted a huge difference in defense compared to the days when Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko (a player Guardiola loves very much) were part of it.
(Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP via Getty Images)
The same cannot be said of Cancelo given the circumstances surrounding his departure – Guardiola was keen for him to disappear in the winter transfer window after a long sulk in camp. It’s hard to imagine any kind of redemption story.
“He’s here,” said Guardiola on Saturday. “Joao has been so important to us in the past. He’s back and part of the group. We’ll see what happens.”
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It was a perfunctory reply and although Cancelo had 45 minutes here in Tokyo he doesn’t have much interest in getting more playing time in the pre-season. There were reports that Saudi Arabian clubs turned down the chance to sign him when his agent Jorge Mendes brought it up which, if true, severely limited his options.
At this point it’s difficult to imagine City getting a good deal even for someone who is a top player, but if they can get a deal for Cancelo at all they’ll be happy.
(Top Photo: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)