It all looked so easy. If you had switched the game on in the second half, you probably wouldn’t have even noticed City were playing with 10 men.
Yet the effort that went into maintaining such a high level of performance while a man down was nothing short of superhuman from Pep Guardiola’s side.
Despite losing one of the back four, City chose not to make a substitution to reinforce their defence, trusting the players on the field and their ability to play in unfamiliar positions. Rodri dropped into the backline, Bernardo Silva moved inside to play alongside Ilkay Gundogan, while Nathan Ake and John Stones did their best to play at both centre-back and full-back.
READ MORE: Man City ace Phil Foden reveals the 'stupid' reason he missed the 'biggest game of his life'
Though the Blues will always attempt to keep the ball and control the tempo of the game even when down to 10 men, it does not usually go so well, the visit of Crystal Palace last season being a perfect example. City were on top of the game throughout, but after a City goal was ruled out, all momentum was lost and Palace went on to win 2-0.
Indeed, the last time City won a game with 10 men in which they were not already in the lead at the time of the red card was all the way back in February 2019, coming from 2-1 down to defeat Schalke 3-2 in the Champions League last 16.
Last weekend, however, although the plan was broadly the same as previous matches when reduced to 10 men, the game felt different. After a short spell of heavy Fulham pressure following the red card, during which time Guardiola and the coaching staff made their adjustments and the team attempted to settle into the game again, the home side then continued to push the Cottagers back and dominate the ball for the remainder of the clash.
Only four times in the Premier League this season have City had more possession than the 71 per cent of the ball they enjoyed at the Etihad on Saturday, despite playing with 10 men for over an hour. This was a truly exceptional showing from the whole team, not least after Erling Haaland’s disallowed goal in the 75 th minute failed to derail the momentum.
It would have been easy for heads to drop after the goal was chalked off, and as the game drew towards a close, it looked like the efforts of the City players were about to go unrewarded; until De Bruyne’s footwork was too quick for Antonee Robinson, who kicked through his standing leg and conceded a last-gasp penalty which Haaland squeezed home.
City’s dominant performance was rewarded with three points, and nothing less than these players deserved. The midfield of Rodri, Bernardo, Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne were all outstanding. Their constant movement allowed them to find space and keep Fulham moving and stretched wide across the pitch, whilst the effort of the defence was there for all to see.
De Bruyne made six tackles in the game, almost half of the 14 total tackles he has made in the Premier League this season. Bernardo was clearly frustrated in the aftermath of the red card, but after being booked for dissent, he was able to channel his anger into his performance and constantly drove the team forwards, having more touches than all but Rodri and Manuel Akanji.
Julian Alvarez’s selfless running cannot be forgotten either, his misfortune in always seeming to get his opportunities in games that do not go to plan should not distract from the immense talent he clearly has. His goal was excellently taken, reminiscent of goals scored by City’s previous Argentinian striker, Sergio Aguero, in the way it was lashed home from a tight angle.
The diminutive Argentine has many of the off-ball qualities which made Gabriel Jesus such a useful squad player, but with much more composure in front of goal compared to the Brazilian. Given the chance he will be a star in this City side - he is almost the perfect Guardiola player.
To have a team of superstars, which has won four of the last five Premier League titles, buying into this season and going again to this extent is a remarkable achievement from Pep and the club's hierarchy. The time invested and careful consideration given to buying not only the right footballers for on-pitch success, but the right characters for squad harmony is paying dividends and then some.
Guardiola’s delight at the final whistle was plain for all to see, yelling into the camera and punching the air. On the back of a showing like this, it seems unthinkable that such a partnership could be broken up anytime soon. Rarely has the ex-Barcelona manager looked happier and more comfortable at the club than he has this season.
It is early in the season, but this team could well be Guardiola’s best in his time in Manchester. Only De Bruyne remains from the years before the Spaniard arrived in the north west of England. This team is his team, the players are fully on board and the sheer determination on show in the win over Fulham proves that all the ingredients are present for a really special season.
ALSO READ:
