You can’t argue with this.
On Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola’s side took a 5-3 advantage to Monaco for the second leg of the last-16 Champions League tie.
City then lost 3-1 on the night to Monaco, crashing out of Europe on away goals as the tie finished 6-6 aggregate.
There’s no shame in losing to Monaco, an exciting young team who will cause trouble to any of their potential opponents in the quarter-finals. However, City conceded some very sloppy goals across the tie.
On ITV’s highlights show following the game, Roy Keane summed-up exactly why City lost on Wednesday night.
“With the team tonight, they didn’t have enough defensive minded players when you see the goals they have given away,” Keane said.
The former Manchester United captain has a point.
Here’s City’s starting line-up, which featured one defensive midfielder, and a full-back at central defence – away from home with a lead to protect. Yaya Toure, a player capable of playing in defensive midfield, was on the bench.
Whoscored“I think where Pep wants to bring Man City, that’s competing in the Champions League and Premier League, he simply doesn’t have the players to do it,” Keane continued.
The former Sunderland manager went on to say that City need to sign “four, five, six top quality players” in the summer, or they will be in the exact same position next year.
City’s defence came in for criticism following the game, but Rio Ferdinand, speaking on BT Sport, defended under fire City defender John Stones.
“I felt sorry for Stones, he was isolated,” the former Manchester United defender said.
“The players behind him showed no communication. Stones can do nothing about this. I’d have been fuming.”
However, over on Irish TV station RTE, Eamon Dunphy, appearing alongside Damien Duff and Didi Hamann, absolutely slaughtered Stones.
The Irish pundit, who had a playing career with Millwall in the 1970s before becoming a journalist and broadcaster, said the 22-year-old will “never, ever be a good defender.”
According to Dunphy, Stones is already too experienced to be making big mistakes, and lacks the instincts required to be a top defender.
