Manchester City: Loss vs Leeds emphasizes on need for superstar forward

To say that Manchester City have been struggling this season would be like saying that Robert Lewandowski has had trouble finding the net. The Citizens haven’t really struggled at all this season, except for the start of the term. Since then, they’ve tried so many different tactical set-ups and have succeeded with most, if not all of them.

City have scored the most goals and conceded the least in the Premier League. They won the first leg of their Champions League Round-of-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund. They’re in the final of the Carabao Cup, and are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. It’s been smooth sailing almost every single game. Almost.

Manchester City are still far from perfect.

This is the same Manchester City that recently lost to a Leeds team playing with a man down for the entirety of the second half. A shocking home defeat to a mid-table side doesn’t really scream “best team in the world”, But, here we are: They probably are the best team in the world, and they did lose to a mid-table side.

It doesn’t really change much in terms of the title run — City would still win it, unless they lose most of their remaining games, which I don’t see happening. But, games like this make you think about a few other things. A few details that might become very important in the long run, or in the most important games.

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Looking at the statistics from the game, Manchester City underperformed their xG by 1.4. If they scored as many goals as they were expected to score, they would’ve scraped a draw. Could’ve even won the game. But they didn’t. The problem with this City team is both, the lack of a consistent scorer in the team, and sometimes, a lack of a proper striker physically present in the lineup.

I am very much fascinated by the false-nine setup that Pep Guardiola has going on for him at City. I really am. But, there will be games where that plan would have to be thrown out of the window. A few, rare games where City will be chasing, and not leading. That’s when you need that consistent scorer in your team.

Prior to this season, City had Sergio Aguero — one of the most consistent strikers in all of Europe — doing stuff for them. This season, for the most part, he has been either on the sidelines or on the bench. With confirmation that he will be leaving at the end of the season, City’s search for a top, consistent finisher should start by now.

Games like the one against Leeds usually decide who wins the title and who doesn’t. They separate the winners from the rest of the pack. In this case, the title’s all but won, but you can’t say the same would happen in future seasons. And, in games against the top teams in the world, you need that one player that you can rely on. The one that can put his boots on and then just score goals when you need him to. Manchester City don’t have that player.

Gabriel Jesus is a very good player, but he’s not at that level yet. Kevin De Bruyne is not a finisher, even though he scores a good number of goals from the midfield. Ilkay Gundogan has been on an unreal scoring run, but we don’t know if that will continue beyond the season. Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva are world-class players, dribblers, creators, but they’re not world-class scorers.

I was reading this article about why City may not win the Champions League, and it points out the importance of a consistent scorer and backs it up with statistics. It’s honestly a great read and gives you some valuable insight. It makes you think about how good City are, yet they remain far from perfect. Yet, they prove that they’re still human, and that they need a little more.

That’s exactly what I mean. Usually, they’ll find a way out. They’ll win the game. They’ll score goals. Usually. To do that against the biggest teams in the world consistently, though, they might need something more.