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Manchester City season ratings: Defense

By J.C. Gonzalez

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 18: Eric Garcia of Manchester City looks on during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 18: Eric Garcia of Manchester City looks on during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Much like our post-match player ratings, we will take a look at each Manchester City player’s overall performance this season across a three-part series.

Manchester City’s season was inconsistent to say the least, but despite some promise, it ended in ultimate disappointment. Today, we will take a look at City’s most controversial and overall worst area of the team and review their season ahead of the Premier League restart in a month’s time.

These ratings, like match ratings, are out of 10, but rather than a single performance, are based on the player’s performance this season given their stature and expectations. Therefore, a higher rating does not necessarily mean that one player was better than another, but rather, that they delivered on expectations to a higher degree.

Goalkeepers

Ederson (GK): Manchester City’s sweeper-keeper was at times excellent, making crucial saves behind a porous and inconsistent backline. As per usual, the world’s best keeper with his feet played some great passes. Nevertheless, key mistakes against Liverpool, Manchester United, and Lyon remain in the mind, and at times, the Brazilian makes me wonder whether or not his desire to play the ball allows more goals than he creates. (7)

Claudio Bravo (GK): In his final season with the club, Bravo was once again City’s cup keeper as the team won its third straight Carabao Cup. At one point, he filled in for an injured Ederson, which was memorable for a red card against Atalanta, requiring Kyle Walker to play in goal. Bravo was a good presence in the dressing room and had great cup runs over the years, but his career in sky blue will be defined by mistakes. (7.5)

Fullbacks

Kyle Walker (RB): City’s best and most consistent defender this season. He looked sharp going forward, and had some absolutely brilliant games tracking opposing wingers, notably shutting Real Madrid star Eden Hazard out of the second leg of their Champions League tie. A very good and encouraging season for Walker’s future at the club. (8.5)

João Cancelo (RB/LB): After rumors of wanting to leave the club due to an inability to unseat Walker, Cancelo emerged as City’s best option at left back, despite being a natural right back. He was phenomenal going forward, making driving runs and showing pace to get back when needed, and he should have a long future in Manchester. (8)

Benjamin Mendy (LB): A massive improvement over the last few seasons in that he was actually able to play. However, major questions still remain surrounding whether or not Mendy is the player City paid such a massive fee to bring to Manchester. He was absolutely exposed by Adama Traoré to lose one of City’s matches against Wolves, and should not be first choice heading into next season. (5)

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB): During City’s title run, Pep Guardiola began to really trust and appreciate Zinchenko at left back and he was expected to really compete to establish himself this season. That never happened, as poor performances saw him unseated during the restart by a right footer. All in all, a very disappointing campaign for Zinchenko, whose future is uncertain. (5)

Angeliño (LB): After exercising their buy-back clause on the Spanish fullback from PSV, he featured much more than expected during the first half of the campaign before being surprisingly loaned to RB Leipzig, where he was instrumental in their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League. I thought he was very good for City, and as he returns, he should be given the chance to fight for a place, as I see him behind only Cancelo on current form. (7)

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Center Backs

John Stones (CB): A massively disappointing campaign as his career in Manchester continues to sink. A horrific performance at Norwich lowered his confidence, saw midfielders picked ahead of him in defense, and he was injured for large stretches of the season. When City needed the best version of Stones, he simply was not there, and although he appeared poised to leave the club, Eric García’s transfer request may give Stones once last chance. (4)

Nicolás Otamendi (CB): While Stones’ poor season is a disappointment because we know the player he can be, City’s expectations were rightly low for a deteriorating Otamendi. Nevertheless, when he was forced into action, he managed to fall even below those expectations, and regularly looked very shaky. (4.5)

Eric García (CB): City’s surprise of the season as García answered the call and immediately became City’s best right-sided center back option. At just 19 years of age, he was fantastic, and it was a huge disappointment when he announced his desire to leave. (8)

Fernandinho (CB): As a natural midfielder, I feel sympathy for Fernandinho, who was forced to learn a new role due to the club failing to sign a Vincent Kompany replacement. He was inconsistent and typically not very good, but he served the club to the best of his abilities. (6)

Aymeric Laporte (CB): His injury against Brighton early in the season immediately changed the trajectory of City’s season for the worse. When he returned, he became the leader and defender City needed, even if he was not always at his very best. Laporte is an absolutely massive part of this team, and this season highlighted just how much his presence means to the backline. (7.5)