Former Liverpool player Mark Lawrenson has recently commented on Manchester City’s problems throughout the 2019/20 Premier League season – particularly the club’s decision to let Vincent Kompany leave last summer.
Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League, 23 points behind newly-crowned champions Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s side have lost eight games throughout their campaign so far, which is more than they lost in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Premier League seasons combined.
On this topic, Lawrenson recently spoke on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast as to why he believed City have not been able to replicate their league form from recent seasons this time around.
Speaking prior to their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Thursday night, he said: “The other thing with Manchester City – what a decision that was: a) to let Kompany go, but b) not to replace him. I think it’s [been] a massive thing this season for Manchester City.
“I’m not saying they would have won the league because Liverpool have been a far better side. But that was a major, major poor decision, for me. Not maybe to let him go, because he decided he wanted to go, but not to replace him, and that really has been their Achilles heel. Have they not lost seven games, City? Which is unheard of normally, isn’t it?”
TIF Thoughts…
With the benefit of hindsight, City’s decision not to replace Kompany last summer does seem to have been a poor one, as City have already conceded 33 goals after 31 fixtures – 10 more than they did in the entirety of last season.
However, there have been certain unforeseen circumstances that have often left City short at the back, with Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Eric Garcia all suffering injuries throughout the campaign.
Did Vincent Kompany still have something to offer when he left Man City?
Yes
No
Despite this, Lawrenson does have a point, as although the injuries to centre-backs have been unfortunate, a club with City’s resources should perhaps have been better prepared for that eventuality.