Not taking their chances has hurt Manchester City in recent matches | OneFootball

For a team that possesses the attacking quality that Manchester City does, it does seem far-fetched to suggest that the lack of a clinical edge could cost Pep Guardiola’s side. A team with Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush, Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki in their ranks should have no issue taking their chances. But the reality is throughout January that Manchester City’s wastefulness in front of goal has cost them. Pep Guardiola has acknowledged this fact, speaking ahead of his team’s crucial Premier League fixture against Liverpool. City have to be more clinical in front of goal and it would be massive for City if it occurred today.

Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City have hurt themselves by not taking their chances.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Liverpool, Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his team’s wastefulness in the final third has cost them. He added that his team had played well in matches, but they had shot themselves in the foot by not taking their chances. Speaking on the subject, Pep Guardiola said: “Don’t misunderstand me — when we will not be closer in the Premier League it belongs to us, when we miss the chances.”

“When you miss chances in a thousand games lately – in the six-yard box, from near the penalty spots, with the keeper one-against-one — I’ve said, ‘Wow, [with those goals] we have more points and are closer’.”

“But the margins in the Premier League, at the highest level, [are small]. We won in the Bernabeu but played much worse than in many games recently in the Premier League. Sometimes it is like that, you have to accept it.”

City simply have to take their chances when they arrive, it’s as simple as that.

Manchester City haven’t been clinical in front of goal. This cost them points when they drew three consecutive Premier League matches against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton. Pep Guardiola’s side had the chances against Sunderland and Brighton to win both of those games. Against Chelsea, City created openings but failed to create any chances of note from great positions. Drawing all three of those games cost Pep Guardiola six points. They picked up three points instead of nine, which they deserved given how many chances they created. Given that City entered this weekend’s Premier League fixtures six points behind Arsenal, the cost of Manchester City’s wastefulness in front of goal is clear to see.

Manchester City simply have to be more clinical in front of goal. There is no doubt about that. If they could start that process against Liverpool at Anfield today, that would be ideal. City cannot afford to leave any more points on the table, so to speak, if they hope to overhaul Arsenal this season. So, the sooner that City start taking their chances, the better.