After a busy summer there is one hole remaining in the Manchester City squad | OneFootball

After a busy summer transfer window, the Manchester City squad has a different look than it did a season ago. A host of club legends, such as Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Kyle Walker, and Ilkay Gundogan, have left the club. Key contributors such as Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji have also departed. In terms of incoming players, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, James Trafford, and Gianluigi Donnarumma look set to play key roles at the club.

After a busy summer, there is one hole remaining in Pep Guardiola’s squad. That is at right-back. It is hoped that not signing a right-back this summer doesn’t cost Pep Guardiola’s side this season.

The frailty at right-back at Manchester City has been on display already this season.

So far this season, Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis have shared duties at right-back for Pep Guardiola’s side. In Manchester City’s opening weekend win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, Rico Lewis played superbly well. He inverted into midfield, defended well and played in the manner that is expected when Lewis plays at right-back. The problem for Manchester City wasn’t on display during that game. It came in their next two matches against Tottenham and Brighton.

Rico Lewis wasn’t as effective during Manchester City’s 2-nil loss to Tottenham at the Etihad. He couldn’t get into the game like he did against Wolves. However, it must be said that neither of Tottenham’s two goals on that day came from anything that Rico Lewis did wrong defensively. He just couldn’t get into the game in the manner he would’ve liked or as his team required. Manchester City were beaten in midfield during that game, and that saw them lose to Thomas Frank’s side. Rico Lewis didn’t have his best game on that day, but he wasn’t alone at the Etihad as his teammates weren’t at their best either.

Against Brighton, Matheus Nunes started at right-back. The Portuguese international was serviceable until he gave away the penalty that turned the game during the second half at the Amex Stadium. He inexplicably handled a Lewis Dunk cut back from a Brighton free kick, which conceded the penalty that saw James Milner equalise for Fabian Hurzeler’s side. That moment turned that game, and Brighton went on to win 2-1.

The problem with Matheus Nunes playing at right-back is that the errors he commits turn games. That was on display last season and showed itself against Brighton at the Amex Stadium. The effort of Matheus Nunes cannot be faulted, but his penchant for making defensive mistakes is costly for his team. The hope is that he can rectify this side of his game when the international break is over. If he cannot, that will be an issue for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Summary.

There is a hole in the Manchester City squad at right-back. The hope is that until the January transfer window, it doesn’t hurt Pep Guardiola’s side during the first half of this season. In an ideal world, Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes can do the job for Pep Guardiola. Perhaps John Stones could also step in and play at right-back if required.

But if those options cannot do the job at right-back, perhaps Manchester City will be kicking themselves for not signing a right-back this summer. It does look to be the glaring weakness in Pep Guardiola’s squad. There is pressure on Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes to do the job required at right-back. If they cannot serious questions will come as to why Manchester City didn’t sign a right-back this summer.