Manchester City come out victorious from Kenilworth Road whilst our incredible away support continued to chant all game long. Pushing the players on. Now looking ready for a tough set of fixtures in March, with the best duo in world football getting back to their best.

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Luton Town 2 - 6 Manchester City Review

FA Cup 5th Round

MOTM: Erling Haaland

Other standout performances include: Kevin De Bruyne & Bernardo Silva

Notable Stats:

• Erling Haaland goals scored for Manchester City by competition. Premier League, 53 goals scored in 56 games. Champions League, 17 goals scored in 17 games. FA Cup, 8 goals scored in 5 games.

• Erling Haaland has 79 goals in 83 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions since his debut in July 2022. That’s 30 more than any other Premier League player during that time. Mohamed Salah is next with 49.

• Erling Haaland is the first player to score 5+ goals in a single Champions League game and 5+ goals in a single FA Cup game.

• Despite playing just 12 games, only four players in Europe’s big five leagues have provided more assists than Kevin De Bruyne across all competitions this season (11). More assists than any other Manchester City player this season.

Main Takeaways:

• Ortega had a very interesting game with him at fault for the second goal with a poor pass out. However, he made a number of saves throughout the game and was key to what we saw Haaland doing holding up the ball. Tasked with firing the passes on the floor into the midfield, finding Haaland and De Bruyne in the air. The shape of our passing network below shows that and the different approach the team had to the game.

• Kevin De Bruyne and Haaland linking up together almost like having two strikers up top. You see that in our approach with the passing network and it worked wondered throughout the game. These two have a connection up there with the best seen in world football and will be key to us winning the big games in March. Especially away from home.
  
  De Bruyne always needs minutes before he can perform his best for ninety minutes and this game was huge for him being sharp for the derby.
  

• Haaland holding up the ball and linking up with De Bruyne was the key part of City winning this game. Included his touch map below to show. Number of shots inside the box, exactly where he would want them to be on his left foot. Arguably should have scored seven.

• Matheus Nunes in these last two games has shown progress in his decision making and performance. Not by any means is he blowing people away, but he offers an option out wide for away games. Taking a lot of touches, keeping the ball and able to interchange with others on the pitch. Completed all four dribble attempts, won eight of ten ground duels and should have scored a goal. Had a couple of chances by making runs into the box and either wasted them or shot wide. A far more realistic option for us then he was even just a few weeks ago.

• Grealish showing the same promising signs when he started against Copenhagen before repeating an early departure due to injury. Assuming the same issue with his groin and hopefully a 2-3 week absence. We will need him back for the rest of the season as the games stack up. Opens up a space in our best eleven for others.

• Stones looks more and more like the player we saw last season, his movement across the pitch is ridiculous and he is always so careful with his touches, never losing the ball. Another player we need fit for the rest of the season, this being his first 3 game stint without being injured.

• Walker struggles early on with a couple errors that could have led to a goal. Rebounding from those mistakes to put in a solid performance after being rested lately. Outside the boot pass to De Bruyne to make the goal, similar to his one in the Club World Cup that put Kovacic through. Surely has left Pep with some headaches for the derby line up.

• Mateo Kovacic now looks like the player we saw at the start of the season and gives us a realistic option without Rodri. Stones alongside him inverting. Ability to carry the ball through a congested midfield or whilst being pressed is a great addition to the team. Another one that will give Pep some headaches picking the team. Away from home I think he gets a lot of starts for the remainder of the season.

• Jeremy Doku coming on for Grealish was an interesting performance to say the least. Him also using his strength to hold off defenders after Ortega fired a ball into him. Popping up across the pitch for City this game rather than being isolated out wide on the wing. He won’t seamlessly slide into the team in his first season but last night he showed another side to his game, that he is making good progress. Will have been annoyed not to do better with the couple chances he had and at least hit the target. Something there for him to unlock with cutting in for a shot.

• Remaining substitutes that were used primarily to get rest for those likely starting the derby, all had solid minutes for a game that was largely wrapped up. Rico Lewis tidy in possession. Bobb and Alvarez had moments that they could have made into a chance if better decisions were made.

Moving Forward:

• FA Cup next round draw will take place tonight (28th Feb) at 7pm, prior to the kick off of other games this round.
  
  Preferably want to avoid a top Premier League team since the game will take place in the March weekend 18th - 19th. Tie against Leicester to see Enzo Maresca return would be interesting!
  
  Remaining teams include; Liverpool/Southampton, Newcastle, Chelsea/Leeds, Man United/Notts Forest, Brighton/Wolves, Coventry and Leicester.
  

• We won’t always play this way strictly due to how the opposition set up, but it is a huge weapon to have for the remainder of the season. Aston Villa and Arsenal away being two of those that we lost and those two linking up would have made a difference. Looking ahead to Liverpool, Brighton and Spurs away as games that De Bruyne linking up with Haaland is crucial for us picking up the three points.
  

• Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes have to now be considered as options for our best eleven along with Alvarez, Doku and Bobb. There is an empty spot in our best line up for one name and depending on who we play a few of those could be in contention. Besides that, those are probably our go to for subs in a game. If Grealish was fit then he would take that spot.
  
  Best 11: Ederson, Walker/Akanji, Stones, Dias, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish/empty spot, Haaland
  
  Let us know your best City 11 in the comments below.
  

• Derby coming up on Sunday will see City aim to start their tough March fixtures in the right way. Plenty of selection headaches for Pep Guardiola through injuries and emerging players form. Full review from us will be published on Saturday.

Interesting Moments and Links

• A picture that’s worth a thousand words.

• Mateo Kovacic Goal.

• Kyle Walker outside foot pass, KDB pass and Haaland Goal.

• Ortega ball through the middle, Erling Haaland holdup play and KDB putting him through in on goal.

• Haaland enticing the defender to come tight, to pin and run off him last night.

That’s all for this newsletter. We are always looking for other ways to provide value to our subscribers so we appreciate any feedback provided in the comments below.

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