Manchester City was eliminated in the penalty shootout against Real Madrid, in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. He couldn’t, he didn’t know how to enter the colossus of the competition. However, for specialists, it is still the team that drives Pep Guardiola the best set in the world. For various reasons, which exceed the artistic style, the offensive voracity.
With a devastating display of offensive fire, the this Thursday 4-0 over Brighton And Hovee, in its tiny and picturesque setting, on the 29th, the slope of the Premier League. And they were one point behind Arsenal, although with one game less. There are five dates left and the summit is like this: 77 to 76. The losing team had a bad time Valentín Barco: he tied a “knot” with the ball at 0-3 and “passed by” in the play for the fourth goal, when he tried to mark Walker on the rebound. Of course: in the end, the left back received a great gesture from Guardiola.
City’s clinical eye, added to Arsenal’s recent disappointments in the final stretch (like last season), make the celestial team the natural candidate. If there are no surprises, he will win the competition again, as in the last three seasons. The previous one, obtained by Klopp’s downtrodden Liverpool (third, with 74), had as runners-up the same team that dominates England with external financial contributions of controversial origin.
City’s feast against Brighton countercultural, brand-free and risk-loving, could have been broader. It was, precisely, the first time of Valentine Boat as a starter, as a classic number 3, with sporadic and brave advances. He did not have a good performance, nervous about the stage and overwhelmed by the rival.
In one of the many times that the team he directs Roberto De Zerbi He tried to come out playing, solved by a goalkeeper as good with his legs as with his hands (Jason Steele), the young player, who emerged in Boca, made a mistake like an apprentice, dizzy between opposing boots, inside his own area. Everything in the team was tied up in that start from the back and the former Boca was no exception: they pressured him, City won the ball and “went for the goal.” The second cry of Phil Footthe spicy lefty owner of the number 47 shirt, who a while before had invented a free kick, complicit in a deflection.
The opening of the scoreboard was great Kevin De Bruyne: When injuries don’t faze you, this is the best on the market. He took advantage of a center from Kyle Walker (Barco did not reach the crossroads) and scored a popcorn to collect and save. Straight to the angle. The Belgian is outstanding.
The 44-year-old Italian coach, who is usually praised by Guardiola, took note of the situation, in a season in which he also finished halfway in the Europa League: he made three changes, although he had to change almost the entire team , if he had had that power in his hands. Barco continued on the field, a way of not punishing him and, at the same time, continuing to gain experience. Days ago, the coach had pointed it out: “He has to work to improve his physical condition.” Logical: the differences between the League Cup and the Premier League are a world.
Under heavy rain, the suspense was determining how much the final difference was going to be. Brighton tends to be careless about branding and City is voracious. An advance by Walker led to Julian Alvarezin number 9 mode, without the shadow of the injured Erling Haaland. The cross shot ended the drought of a scorer who not only lives by scoring goals. He tapped a stick, as a relief. Eight games without converting for a figure of his caliber is an eternity. January 31 had been his last time (for two), against Burnley.
It was, at this point, a River-Boca from the other side of the ocean, although with a distance impossible to replicate in a superclassic. Julián is world champion and is established in Great Britain, Colo Barco is spying on his first cards. “I am sad about the defeat, it was not what we wanted. We seek to win the game. We knew that City is a very big team and that they won everything. It was painful, but on the other hand I feel happy for the debutmore against this team and on our court,” were his first reflections, in a one-on-one with ESPN.
The show was so uneven that Pep opted for two young people in the final stretch, as Rico Lewis, 19, and Jeremy Doku, 21. And he even made two more modifications. Quite a symptom: the Catalan coach does not usually touch the substitute bench. The thing is, 34 minutes into the first half, when Barco made a fatal mistake, the job was finished. What followed was a bureaucratic affair.
The best of the match
At the end, It was surprising that Pep Guardiola went to greet Valentín Barco especially. He ran to where the former Boca soccer player was, shook his hand and said a few words to him. Only they know what they talked about, but he gave the impression that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach gave him words of encouragement. It is worth remembering that Manchester City was one of those interested in paying the termination clause of Valentín Barco’s contract with Boca, but that chance later cooled because the left back wanted to finish playing the Copa Libertadores with Boca before emigrating to Europe.
Barco thanked him for the gesture, he valued the words of one of the best coaches in the history of football. Furthermore, beyond the pain of this Thursday’s result, Valentín knows that he has everything to learn (and win) in the future. “It is a totally different football. I was adapting. The coach asked me if I was ready and I felt good on the field. I have admiration for Julián, he is a world champion, we spoke before the game. I’ll probably change his shirt,” he said, after the game, the greeting of a great man and of multiple emotions.