A bad day for a team that looked ponderous compared to a foe etched with vitality. Right across the pitch, we were slower than the opposition, slow to react, slow to get back, and slow with the ball. Ake looked poor for such a top player, and Akanji has (for several weeks) avoided anything other than absolute conservatism with his passing, which means that attacks begin when the opposition is already set (because the ball is passed across the back line before slowly making its way to the deep midfielders). I can only put it down to a lack of fitness, and therefore find it harder to grasp Pep's lack of proactivity. We can only hope that players return soon because there will be more days like this if they do not. Well done to Gvardiol, Rico, Nunes, and Doku.