November 23rd 2024.
Jamie Redknapp was not pleased with the performance of one particular player from Manchester City. After their 4-0 loss to Tottenham, Redknapp slammed Ilkay Gundogan, the midfielder who seemed to struggle throughout the game. It was a disappointing result for the defending Premier League champions, who were hoping to turn things around after a string of four consecutive losses.
The game started off on a bad note for Manchester City, with James Maddison scoring two well-taken goals early on. Things only got worse for Pep Guardiola's side after Pedro Porro's goal and Brennan Johnson's late strike sealed their fifth consecutive loss. Many have pointed to the absence of Ballond d'Or winner Rodri in midfield as a key factor in their recent struggles, and once again, it proved to be a telling absence. Ange Postecoglou's side dominated the midfield, leaving Gundogan and his partner Rico Lewis struggling to keep up.
Gundogan, who returned to Manchester City this summer at the age of 33, had a poor display on Sunday night. Redknapp, analyzing the game on Sky Sports, criticized the German for his lack of energy and focus. "Man City are off it at the moment," Redknapp stated. "They are short and things aren't quite clicking in midfield with that balance. Gundogan couldn't get around the pitch today – he couldn't get near anybody and his focus wasn't right."
Redknapp went on to point out Gundogan's mistakes during Maddison's first goal, highlighting the basic principles of midfield play. "When somebody runs without the ball and they go in behind you just have to follow your man," Redknapp explained. "But Gundogan just makes one of the most elementary mistakes in football by not following his man. All he has to do is mark that run, but instead, he puts John Stones in a really bad position. Gundogan has to follow that run and that's really poor from him. He just couldn't match Spurs' energy in midfield all game."
The defeat leaves Manchester City five points behind league leaders Liverpool, and Arne Slot's side could extend that lead to eight points if they win against Southampton on Sunday. It's a tough blow for Manchester City, who are struggling to find their form and maintain their title hopes. Redknapp's criticism of Gundogan's performance highlights the need for improvement in midfield if they want to turn things around and get back to their winning ways.
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