At the away game against them, we had Cancelo and Walker at full back. Ake and Akanji at centre back. The defence will be totally different, and that will make our build up play better and the ability to defend better. However, our forward players probably had their worst game of the season in the first half. Their was uncharacteristic poor displays, especially from Rodri, Bernardo and KDB. Although Foden, Haaland and Mahrez barely touched the ball for the first 25 minutes too. The overall passing and the pressing in the final third was way off the pace and probably our poorest spell of the season. We approached the game too relaxed for a derby.
In the second half we played far better as a team, and when Grealish came on the game changed in our favour. It wasn’t until that absolutely ridiculous first goal for them, that it all changed. Obviously that goal should’ve been dissalowed, in which case, I think we would’ve seen the game out or even scored more. But the momentum shifted big time, and at that stage, we weren’t playing with the character to be able to take it. We had become too complacent, too reliant as a team on individuals. You’re right, the system has changed but our mentality has changed too, all for the better.
