The Manchester City defence has formed the backbone of City’s unbeaten run | OneFootball

Manchester City entered the international break off the back of a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Pep Guardiola’s side has begun to look like a Pep Guardiola side in patches of games across that run. What else has stood out across City’s seven-game unbeaten run is that Manchester City’s defence has formed the backbone of their play. If Pep Guardiola’s side remains strong defensively, the free-flowing football will come with a solid base behind it.

Manchester City have a strong defence, which has stood out over the past seven matches.

Across their past seven matches, Manchester City have only conceded four goals in seven matches. Two of those goals came in Manchester City’s 2-all draw with AS Monaco in their UEFA Champions League league phase fixture. So outside of that match, City have conceded two goals in the other six games. One of those goals came in City’s 5-1 win over Burnley. The other was Arsenal’s late equaliser in the 1-all draw at the Emirates Stadium, where a sumptuous Eberechi Eze ball over the top of the City defence played in Gabriel Martinelli to score a quality chip to make the game 1-all. Manchester City’s defensive statistics over their past seven matches tell a story, but City’s defensive performances add to it.

Watching Manchester City defend, you can see that every player is willing to do their job for the team. Take out Manchester City’s 2-nil Carabao Cup third-round tie win over Huddersfield Town, and there has been a consistency in selection at the back from Pep Guardiola. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol have become City’s first-choice centre-back pairing. Their games complement each other. Josko Gvardiol is a weapon in possession, and his defensive work is top-notch. However, he does have a mistake in him, which was on display against Brentford. Ruben Dias has been a wall at the back by being strong in a challenge and leading the way with his leadership.

There is strength in the full-back positions in the City squad.

At the full-back positions, Nico O’Reilly has made the left-back position his own after Rayan Ait-Nouri went down with an injury. O’Reilly’s size and athleticism complement the City defence, and the young midfielder adds plenty to Manchester City’s play in possession. Abdukodir Khusanov looks to be Manchester City’s first-choice right-back. His speed and strength in a challenge is an asset to his team. After Khusanov got injured, Matheus Nunes started Manchester City’s past two Premier League matches. Nunes put in two no-nonsense performances, which is all he has to do at right-back. John Stones started at right-back in City’s 2-all draw with AS Monaco, but it remains to be seen if Stones will continue playing at right-back as the season progresses.

If the City defence is breached, they have a wall in goal behind them.

In Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manchester City have one of the world’s best shot-stoppers in goal. Donnarumma’s value to Pep Guardiola’s side has already been on full display. He made a stunning save in City’s 3-nil win over Manchester United. Donnarumma’s stunning save to deny Bryan Mbeumo and preserve Manchester City’s 2-nil lead at the Etihad was pivotal. Donnarumma’s save from Igor Thiago after a Josko Gvardiol error played in the Brentford striker was a key moment in Manchester City’s win at the GTech Community Stadium. The presence and leadership of Donnarumma has added another layer to Manchester City’s defence, and City are a stronger team defensively with the addition of the Italian international.

Summary.

Manchester City begun to click before the current international break. Across their seven-game unbeaten run, the signs are there that Pep Guardiola’s side is starting to click into gear. What has been overlooked amongst Erling Haaland’s stunning form is that the City defence has formed the backbone of their play. If that defensive foundation holds firm, Pep Guardiola’s side could achieve anything this season.