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Leeds 1-1 Manchester City: Not good enough

By J.C. Gonzalez

Leeds United's Argentinian head coach Marcelo Bielsa (L) and Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) gesture from the sidelines during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on October 3, 2020. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Leeds United's Argentinian head coach Marcelo Bielsa (L) and Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) gesture from the sidelines during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on October 3, 2020. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Manchester City have dropped points in two out of their first three matches after a 1-1 draw at Leeds.

Manchester City were once again not up to the task as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road against Leeds United. This result leaves the Citizens on just four points from three matches, 11th in the table, and with a negative goal difference.

Given the potential for Liverpool to go eight clear of City and level with their Merseyside rivals Everton at the top, City’s season already hangs in the balance. In the wake of this game, the media will once again claim that this is an aberration and that City should spring right back into the title race in the coming weeks. They will stare in awe and discuss Marcelo Bielsa’s brilliance, when the dark reality exists that the Centurions and Fourmidables are simply not the same team anymore.

However, in all three of the matches City have played so far this season, there are clear warning signs being sent. Even with the addition of Rúben Dias, the team looked extremely vulnerable and were lucky not to lose. Four points is actually a fortunate start, as it could very well be zero were it not for poor finishing from Wolves in the opener and heroics from Ederson against Leeds.

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City are staring down the barrel of a real fight to remain in next season’s Champions League places. The quality around them has improved dramatically, with teams such as Everton and Leicester City looking real threats while Chelsea and Tottenham have yet to show their potential when fully fit. The Champions League is the bare minimum for a club of this stature, but the way this season is shaping up, Pep Guardiola’s potential final year could end much like his first: underwhelming, and just barely securing the top four.

There are real, clear, and obvious issues with this team that one defender can help, but cannot solve alone. I’m not even entirely convinced that any number of new players could do it. The fingers of blame will be pointed at Benjamin Mendy, who was horrid once again, or at Ederson for a crucial mistake, but this has all the telltale signs of a manager whose message has gone stale. Much like Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs last season or José Mourinho at Chelsea, the potential exists for the wheels to completely come off at Manchester City, which would truly test both Guardiola and the board’s faith in him.

Barely securing a point at a newly-promoted team is a bad sign. In fact, there were very few positives from this match. Mendy is a world-record flop, City once again dropped points from a winning position, and the players just do not seem to have the same hunger.