Player Ratings: Manchester City lose the shield to Leicester City

The FA cup holders versus the premier league champions is always expected to be a tense game and on Saturday that’s exactly what it was. Leicester were able to narrowly edge out Manchester City due to an 89-minute penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho.

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Due to many players still on holiday, Pep Guardiola was forced to play a team that did not contain many of his ideal starters. It did include, however, an appearance for record signing Jack Grealish and game time for two of Manchester City’s young stars: Cole Palmer and Samuel Edozie.

An intense game that could have been won by either team was a good watch. Here are how we rate the players of Manchester City:

Zack Steffan – 7.5/10

Steffan was pushed into making many saves in the first half, the most important one being the Jamie Vardy save just before the end of the first half. A quality performance from the American, who could have done little about Iheanacho’s brilliant penalty.

If not for Steffan, the game would have been done and dusted for Manchester City in the first 45 minutes itself.

Joao Cancelo- 6/10

During the first forty-five minutes, Harvey Barnes caused a lot of problems for Cancelo and kept running circles around the Portuguese. However, as the game progressed Cancelo got a little better and was able to even create a few chances and keep the ball for the Cityzens.

Nathan Ake – 4.5/10

Ake started the game strong, strong in the air and was able to contain the Jamie Vardy threat for most of the first half. But then he was regularly caught in no man’s land and looked clueless. The shot which struck the post later in the first half was symbolic of his slopiness. Then, he got caught with the ball in City’s half and ended up giving away the penalty. An all-round clumsy performance from the Dutch.

Ruben Dias – 7/10

It was a trademark performance from City’s reliant centre-back. Dominant in the air and calm and composed when with the ball, the Portuguese was one of Manchester City’s better performers on the evening.

Benjamin Mendy – 7/10

A good performance from the Frenchman on the left hand side on Saturday. Rumoured with an exit, he was able to not only overlap youngerster Samuel Edozie, but also keep the ball in possession and produce a few dangerous crosses.

Fernandhinio – 6.5/10

Captained the side on Saturday and at the age of 36 he played quite well. Was able to read the game well and keep the ball, but no match for midfield of Leicester which contained Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans.

Ilkay Gundogan- 6.5/10

Started well and was able to test Kasper Schemicheal early on with a superb free-kick. Though not at his sharpest, the German was still able to create a good chance for Edozie and looked confident when with the ball.

Cole Palmer- 7/10

Given a free role in the midfield, the youngster showed a lot of promise for the Cityzens. Could have played better with ball in possession, but all in all a good performance from the academy graduate.

Riyad Mahrez – 7/10

Playing against his former club with thousands of fans booing him was not an easy feat. But he played very well under the conditions. On the right hand side he was nuisance, running constantly at defenders and drawing fouls.

Fernan Torres – 5.5/10

A game to forget for the youngster as he disappointed in the role of a striker. His performance showed how badly Manchester City need an actual striker. Not completely his fault as he was not given enough chances to really have a decent effect on the game.

Samuel Edozie – 6/10

Even though Edozie was playing his first game for Manchester City, many expected him to continue his pre-season form into the Community Shield game. However the youngster fail to do that and got stuck up against Ricardo Perreira for a big part of the game.

Manchester City’s substitutes

Rodri- 6/10

Replaced Gundogan in the 65 minute and hardly did anything wrong. Did not have a lot of time to make a significant impact, but played well.

Jack Grealish – 6/10

The record signing made his debut for the club and came on to a huge cheer from the crowd. He looked sharp on the left hand side, but the ex-Villa captain could not provide the winning edge he so often does when he comes off the bench.

Ben Knight – 6/10

Replaced Ferran Torres in the 74th minute, and played well but was not able to have enough impact on the game as a whole.

Bernardo Silva – 7/10

Repalced Palmer and changed the game instantly. If he would have started or even came on a little earlier, maybe the result of the game would have been very different. A brilliant cameo from the Portguese, who might depart the club this summer.

That’s all the ratings from the game. Do you agree with the ratings?

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