Cardiff shock may spur City splash
Print Edition
Manchester City could once again be tempted to throw money at a problem after a shock 2-3 defeat by Cardiff City highlighted the need for top quality cover for first-choice center backs Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic.
Having splashed around 90 million pounds (US$140.34 million) on bolstering its attack with Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic, it was its lack of spending at the other end of the pitch that was exposed in Wales on Sunday.
City lost Kompany to a groin strain during last week’s English Premier League opener against Newcastle United and was already without Nastasic, recovering from an ankle problem, forcing it to field a makeshift partnership in Cardiff.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini chose not to blame Joleon Lescott, the England defender who lost his place to Nastasic last season, or Javi Garcia, the midfielder who was drafted in to play alongside him, saying there was a collective responsibility.
“I haven’t seen the goal yet but defending set pieces is the job of the whole team. It doesn’t matter who is guilty but to concede two goals from corners is too many,” the Chilean said on the club website.
City had gone ahead with Edin Dzeko’s 52nd-minute goal before Aron Gunnarsson leveled in the 60th and last season’s league runner-up was then undone by two Fraizer Campbell headers from corners in the space of eight minutes.
Negredo pulled one back for City in stoppage time after coming on as a substitute for a second straight game but it was too late. “We lost because we didn’t concentrate. We will work on this during the week,” said Pellegrini, whose side had stormed to a 4-0 win at home to Newcastle with a fluid attacking display.
He had said before the game Kompany’s absence was not a reason to bring in a center back before the transfer window closes on September 2 but after leaking goals against the Premier League newcomer, he may change his mind.
Kompany has been ruled out for around a month, making him a doubt for the first Manchester derby of the season when City hosts champion United on September 22, while Nastasic has only just returned to training.
With Micah Richards out with a hamstring problem and having seen Kolo Toure depart on a free transfer to Liverpool, City finds itself depleted at the back with the season only just under way.
It has the financial means and the time to do something about it, should it wish to, and having been given a target of five trophies in five seasons Pellegrini could still take City’s close-season spending over the 100 million pound mark.
As Cardiff was winning at home, neighbor Swansea City lost 0-1 at Tottenham Hotspur, with Roberto Soldado scoring a penalty. Spurs joined Chelsea and Liverpool as the only teams with two wins out of two.
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