Three things we learnt during Manchester City’s stalemate with Stoke

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Manchester City ineffective and lacking creativity

So, Stoke City were good and will receive praise for their defensive display but, in contrast, the Manchester City performance fell well below their usual high standards.

Pep Guardiola’s side had scored five goals in each of their previous two fixtures at the Etihad Stadium whilst Sergio Aguero had netted five times in his last three appearances. However, despite coming into the contest against Stoke in prolific form The Citizen’s were completely ineffective and impotent on Wednesday evening.

There was a clear lack of energy and enthusiasm in a first half display in which they rarely threatened the visitor’s goal. The play was often slow and ponderous whilst there was little creativity, intelligence or movement in the final third of the pitch. It was only the introduction of David Silva and the arrival of a second striker in the form of Kelechi Iheanacho in the second period that sparked any life into a lacklustre performance. Manchester City were much improved and laid siege to the Stoke goal for the final fifteen minutes of the game but Iheanacho and Leroy Sane both wasted late opportunities to grab a victory.

Guardiola will be hoping that this his side will produce better performances against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter final at the weekend and in Monaco in their second leg Champions League tie.

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