Man Metropolis's weaknesses defined and exploited by Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace | Soccer information

Crystal Palace handed Manchester Metropolis one other setback within the title race at Selhurst Park on Saturday with a 2-2 draw and boss Oliver Glasner later defined how he noticed weaknesses within the reigning champions' sport.

The outcome leaves Metropolis eight factors adrift of prime spot, with Liverpool having a sport in hand, whereas Arsenal and Chelsea – each one level forward of the title holders – shall be wanting to make additional progress within the derbies of London. reside on Sky Sports activities on Sunday.

As health points proceed to restrict Pep Guardiola's choices and stretch the gamers he has at his disposal, Metropolis are confronted with them. At Selhurst Park, it turned clear that the opposing groups have been presently plotting to hurt Metropolis.

Deliver the depth

“We knew we may play at the next depth [than City]all the info confirmed it,” Glasner mentioned afterward. “We knew that after we began the transitions, we might be behind. After we get them working, they may battle a bit of.

“Metropolis have a lot possession in each sport, however they’re the weakest by way of excessive depth and dash distances and we’re fifth or sixth within the league.

“Additionally, the video games they’ve misplaced this season, they’ve misplaced towards very intense groups: Bournemouth, Tottenham and Brighton. [and Liverpool].

“We have been speaking about it, it's one in every of our strengths, our depth, the runs we will do on the again with our full-backs, our attackers and we thought that might assist us win as a result of beating Metropolis with possession shouldn’t be not really easy. I don't know many groups that may try this, so it’s important to discover various things.

“It labored fairly nicely, however it’s only a draw!”

Certainly, the statistics Glasner refers to to reveal his level. Going into this weekend, Man Metropolis ranked second within the Premier League for sprints this season.

Man Metropolis had been outsprinted in 10 of their 14 matches earlier than this spherical of matches. In 4 of the six video games through which they have been outscored by the most important margin, they misplaced.

Seven of their eight victories occurred after they both overtook their opponents by way of distance traveled or got here inside 2 km of their opponents.

After the draw, Guardiola highlighted the strain presently weighing on his workforce. “We performed the final quarter-hour 10 towards 11 [after Rico Lewis’ red card]. We’ve got seven potential beginning XI gamers injured, quite a lot of gamers with [lots of] minutes [played]the physicality of Palace is there…”

Discovering house round Gundogan

Rodri's absence is often and rightly highlighted as a purpose why Metropolis could also be susceptible to the transitions and quick breaks talked about by Glasner. Mateo Kovacic's damage didn't assist both. And at 34, Ilkay Gundogan is preventing to place out the fires.

With Metropolis taking part in a 4-1-4-1, Glasner noticed the chance for his workforce, with Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr taking over Jean-Philippe Mateta, with Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma in central midfield, to take advantage of the areas round a generally remoted Gundogan.

Hughes helped the fly-half into this place.

“There was a lot house on the other facet subsequent to Gundogan and we didn't discover that house that usually,” Glasner mentioned. “We confirmed the gamers at half-time. You will have one or two touches to be there. If we discover that extra typically, we will create an increasing number of probabilities. [first] the purpose was the house we needed to search out. We should always do it extra.

“Whenever you play with a No.6, in 4-1-4-1, like Metropolis play, there's quite a lot of house to the left and proper of the No.6, in order that's how you discover that house. It may be passing – Metropolis discovered that house passing for his or her second purpose. We discovered it on the primary purpose. Generally you want the lengthy ball and go for the second ball.

“After we get our runners in rhythm and get house, it's not really easy to defend. That was a part of the concept of ​​entering into these areas and one factor was to do lengthy balls and to go for lengthy balls.”

Set items

Man Metropolis had solely conceded as soon as from a free-kick earlier than Saturday, however Glasner noticed a possibility – and Palace took benefit with Maxence Lacroix rising above a rooting Kyle Walker to move within the nook from Hughes within the second half.

This can be a power for Palace – solely three groups have scored extra from useless ball conditions this season – but additionally a probably untapped weak point for Metropolis, given the gamers they’re lacking in the mean time.

“They’re lacking quite a lot of good minds,” Glasner mentioned. “Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Rodri – very tall gamers and good heads in protection. So attacking from set items was a giant alternative for us.”

With Metropolis's issues laid naked, it's clear their subsequent opponents will goal comparable areas of weak point. Guardiola and his gamers must adapt – and hope that a few of their presently injured gamers can return quickly to assist resolve the issues.