Manchester City’s recent 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup has raised eyebrows, with talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist pinpointing significant defensive concerns that could haunt Pep Guardiola’s side. Despite City’s attacking prowess, which saw them net three goals in the match, McCoist highlighted defensive frailties that ultimately cost them the game.
“I’ve watched the highlights and I’ve watched the goals, and I think you’re right to flag up defensively, because looking at it, they still scored three goals City. You think normal circumstances, it should be enough to win a game of football,” McCoist remarked on talkSPORT.
McCoist delved deeper into specific moments that highlighted these defensive shortcomings. “Was it the second goal? I think you mentioned straight through? Was it Leonardo? It’s just a simple ball over the top, and he’s actually through with the goalkeeper to beat, which he does,” he noted. This reference to a straightforward long ball slicing through City’s defence points to a lack of organization and communication at the back.
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MCI 1-2 HIL
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The pundit also pointed to problems in dealing with aerial threats. “There were crosses where they were losing so many headers with crosses into the box,” McCoist added. This vulnerability in defending set-pieces and crosses is particularly concerning, as it indicates a weakness in both individual duels and collective marking. For a team that has often relied on players like Rúben Dias and John Stones to dominate in the air, this represents a surprising regression. McCoist’s critique suggests that City’s defenders were outmuscled and outmaneuvered, allowing Al Hilal to exploit their box with alarming frequency.
Goalkeeping also came under scrutiny, with McCoist questioning the performance of City’s shot-stopper. “I don’t think the goalkeeper looked clever,” he said, hinting at potential errors or indecision that compounded City’s defensive troubles.
