Manchester City’s lack of mental edge exposed in Pep Guardiola challenge | Paul Wilson

Dec 03, 2016

The City manager said playing Chelsea would be a good test – and a need to toughen up was revealed in a 3-1 defeat where he refused to blame the referee

Pep Guardiola said this would be a good test of Manchester City’s level and so it was. In football terms they are right up there with Chelsea, almost identical for an hour or so, but when it comes to temperament they are lacking. City failed to regain the Premier League leadership because they are not as good at closing out games or hauling themselves back into them as their opponents.

They are not as good at keeping their cool either, which is why they ended up with nine men following a bad-tempered fracas at the end occasioned by Sergio Agüero’s blatant and petulant foul on David Luiz.

Tags: Chelsea Football Manchester City Sport