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Three Takeaways as Manchester City ease by Burnley

By J.C. Gonzalez

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Carabao Cup fourth round match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor on September 30, 2020 in Burnley, England. Football Stadiums around United Kingdom remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paul Ellis - Pool/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Carabao Cup fourth round match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor on September 30, 2020 in Burnley, England. Football Stadiums around United Kingdom remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paul Ellis - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City got the job done to advance in the Carabao Cup against Burnley 3-0.

Manchester City were solid despite facing a difficult ask away at Burnley in the Carabao Cup. Despite poor weather conditions, City fielded a strong team in response to their poor Premier League defeat at the hands of Leicester and got the job done as the squad comes back to full fitness. As City chase their fourth consecutive League Cup title, they are now into the quarterfinals.

1. Pump the Brakes

While this is a good performance for City against Premier League opposition, this is something we have seen before. City’s peak performance has never been the issue, but rather, their consistency and inability to win when playing poorly. Even in the doldrums of last season, City routinely pumped out 4-0 and 5-0 results. Many will ask if this can be a “turning point” for the season in its early stages, but I believe City’s season hangs entirely on Pep Guardiola, Aymeric Laporte, and Rúben Dias, and that this good showing should not be read too deeply into.

2. Sending a Message

While Guardiola had seemingly decided to prioritize the league and play academy players in the cups, the manager fielded a very strong team for this midweek fixture, as he has in previous seasons. This could mean that his team selection against Bournemouth was purely out of necessity, given that City have had such levels of injury issues so far this season. A third theory could be that he wanted to get his first team back into action as soon as possible after the Leicester disaster and hope to correct course in time for the Premier League’s return. Either way, it could signal the end of City’s youth revolution in the domestic cups.

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3. Four in a row?

City look hungry to once again lift the Carabao Cup. This is pure Guardiola, who has a fiery desire to win each and every match his team play. While I believe trying to challenge Liverpool should take the highest priority, the Blues are now once again in the quarterfinals with a real opportunity to make history. With the team’s depth returning over the coming weeks, grabbing another piece of silverware could further cement Guardiola’s legacy as one of the most domestically-dominant managers to ever arrive on English shores, especially given the uncertainty surrounding City’s ability to win the Premier League or Champions League.