Does the decision of one player against United perfectly encapsulate Manchester City’s current woes? | OneFootball

First off this isn’t an article that will rubbish Jack Grealish as a player. That isn’t the intention. Grealish does divide opinion with his contribution to Manchester City at times. Rather, it’s a look at whether his play late in Sunday’s derby perfectly encapsulates Manchester City’s current woes. Watching one of his decisions during the latter stages of City’s miserable derby defeat to Manchester United on Sunday the England international looked to be that of a player low on confidence. That is a plight that is plaguing the entire City squad currently.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry had this say about Jack Grealish’s decision to play the ball back late in City’s derby defeat. At the time Manchester City were 1-nil up and attempting to hold onto their slender advantage. After Grealish’s decision, the Matheus Nunes errors occurred, and the rest is history. In quotes relayed in the Mirror, Henry said: “That was at home, and I screamed. I did scream because that’s not the Jack Grealish I saw at Villa, that’s not the Jack Grealish I saw arriving at Man City. Regardless of the time, regardless of what it is, regardless of where you are, when the ball comes to you here, and I see Bruno Fernandes coming and maybe Gundogan making a run, all I’m trying to do at that moment, is you take the ball and you square in.”

Henry added: “You square in and see what’s going to happen. I don’t know if I’m going to dribble past him. You don’t just go the other way. You want to stay here, here want to possess the ball. It’s minute 86 or 87, why do you want to invite them to your half?”

The decision from Grealish is symptomatic of Manchester City’s current woes.

Thierry Henry raises a valid point. There was no dare to City’s play throughout the second half of their defeat to Manchester United. That was especially prevalent in the games latter stages. The decision from Grealish to play the ball back perfectly encapsulates this. We have seen Manchester City torment team’s late in tight games by keeping the ball in the corner. It had been a trademark if you will of Pep Guardiola’s side.

But at the moment the world champions appear devoid of confidence. 1 win in 11 games will cause that. The manner of some of their defeats and collapses do indicate that this is now a major issue. If one decision could perfectly sum up City’s play right now it is the one Thierry Henry highlighted from Jack Grealish. He took what appeared to be the safe option and all dare had come out of City’s game at that point. It wasn’t the time for anything elaborate but keeping the ball in the corner would’ve sufficed. But it’s history now but perhaps it perfectly encapsulates everything that is off about Manchester City right now.

It may take time for Manchester City’s confidence to return. But perhaps playing with more dare may slowly bring it back. That remains to be seen. Although Grealish didn’t make the errors Nunes did to turn Sunday’s derby he did take an option that we haven’t become accustomed to from Manchester City. It perfectly encapsulated Manchester City’s current woes and the price was paid for that.