After two successful seasons, Manchester City seem to be struggling more than ever with centre backs than any other clubs. The partnership of Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones could cost Manchester City the Premier League title this year, according to Gary Neville. After a huge mistake that cost Manchester City against Norwich City, losing 3-2 at Carrow Road! The reigning champions are now currently 5 points behind current leaders Liverpool FC. Jamie Carragher believes that Otemendi was never good enough to play for City as for Stones, Carragher believes he is fighting for to stay at City!
Vincent Kompany was there number one defender before leaving the club in the summer, he was the main reason City had a great defence. Now he’s left the club and… Aymeric Laporte is out of action with a long-term injury, so, Otemendi and Stones will be staying in the centre of defence and could cause more mistakes for the nearby future. “He dives in, he has done it all his career,” Carragher said of Otamendi. This is a huge issue with some defenders since they could give away fouls that could cost any club the game.
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Pep Guardiola will have to stick with this defensive partnership until Laporte gets back from his injury and gets his fitness back up from it. Stones and Otemendi is not Guardiola’s first choice centre back options, however he will have to use them until he either buys new defenders or until Laporte comes back from injury. City will always be known as a great team, however if they keep making some mistakes, they won’t be winning the league for the third time in a row!
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