Manchester City’s Winter Transfer Gamble Pays Off
Manchester City struggled during the first portion of the 2020/21 season. With Sergio Agüero out injured, and with Gabriel Jesus’ inconsistent form, the Sky Blues had to rely on their midfield to score goals. This proved costly in the matches against Leeds United (Matchday 4), West Ham United (Matchday 6), Tottenham Hotspur (Matchday 9), and West Bromwich Albion (Matchday 13). In all four matches, Manchester City dominated possession, passes completed, and shots on goal. The only statistics that mattered, however, were the final scores. City drew three of these four matches, and lost the remaining game.
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By the time of the West Brom match, City were in sixth place in the English Premier League table, five points behind then-league leaders Liverpool. Manchester City had scored 20 goals in 13 EPL matches in the 2020/21 season, 17 goals fewer than the 2019/20 season. This was also 20 goals fewer than their “Fourmidable” 2018/19 season and 22 goals fewer than their Centurion season. In other words, Manchester City have failed to convert their chances, and this saw them drop points. (For a full, season-by-season break-down of these statistics, visit Transfermarkt.)
With this in mind, many pundits and fans argued that the Sky Blues should consider buying a striker during the January 2021 Transfer Window. Per Sports Illustrated, striker options ranged from Erling Håland and Lautaro Martínez, while CBS Sports offered Housem Aouar as a possibility. Man City Square even proposed Daniel Sturridge as an option.
City Manager Pep Guardiola, however, denied that his club would make any additions during the January 2021 Transfer Window, and the Catalan insisted that he trusted his men. One month later, it appears Guardiola’s gamble has paid off.
Following City’s draw against West Brom, the Sky Blues have gone on a remarkable 14-match winning run in all competitions. During this period, the Sky Blues defeated Arsenal and Manchester United in the Carabao Cup’s Quarter-finals and Semi-finals, and City beat the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool in the EPL. Manchester City have kept 10 clean sheets in 14 matches across all competitions, and they have conceded only four goals.
Manchester City have also had a remarkable turnaround in front of goal. Between Matchdays 1-13 in the 2020/21 season, City scored 20 goals in 13 games. Between Matchdays 14-22, City scored 25 goals in eight games (in other words, City scored five more goals in five fewer games).
Next. Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City: One hand on the title. dark
Overall, Manchester City seem to have turned a corner, and their gamble to not cash in on a striker or midfielder during the January 2021 Transfer Window seems to be paying off. Will the Sky Blues continue their remarkable run of form for the remainder of the 2020/21 EPL season?