Manchester City's Defending vs. Stuttgart a Huge Concern Ahead of New Season

Caring about pre-season games is a relatively new concept. Until fairly recently, they were always low-key affairs, seen by everyone as much more about fitness and team bonding than results and performances.

Now, of course, they’re televised and take place all over the world. The biggest names in football take each other on, with tournament formats that lead to trophies being handed out. When the public’s thirst for football is so unquenchable, why waste an opportunity to glamorise and commodify it?

For those of us with a more traditional view of the pre-season period, adapting to the new forensic analysis of friendly games is a difficult concept. We often ignore the scoreline and individual displays and concentrate more on the improvement in the players’ fitness and any tactical experimentation from the manager. As long as players are preparing themselves physically for the new season and the technical staff have learned something new, it’s job done, surely?

However, even those who hold such views cannot have ignored the calamitous defending on show in Manchester City’s defeat to Stuttgart on Saturday. With nine days to go before their Premier League curtain-raiser away at West Bromwich Albion, City’s back four looked all at sea in the first 45 minutes as Stuttgart found themselves 4-0 up after just 36 minutes, leaving those watching questioning how ready Manuel Pellegrini's team are ahead of the new season. 

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CITY XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany (C), Mangala, Kolarov, Evans, Nasri, Silva, Navas, Bony, Sterling #cityontour #mcfc

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 1, 2015"

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CITY SUBS: Caballero, Zuculini, Denayer, Lopes, Garcia, Iheanacho, Dzeko #cityontour #mcfc

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 1, 2015"

It was the manner of the defending which was so concerning. It wasn’t bad luck or a lack of sharpness, but something much more deeply ingrained: a lack of cohesion and concentration—perhaps even a lack of quality. Whatever the reason, it simply will not do when the games that matter roll around from next weekend onwards.

THOMAS KIENZLE/Getty Images

It was difficult not to sympathise with Joe Hart, a proud professional, who was left exposed time and again by the defenders in front of him. Sometimes they were statuesque and easily beaten, at other times they ran around frantically, straining to close down Stuttgart's attacking players, and they were still easily beaten.

It was appalling, regardless of the occasion.

Vincent Kompany showed no signs that last season’s collapse was a blip rather than something more permanent, and that will be a huge concern to Pellegrini, who knows full well a huge slice of City's chances of silverware rests on his captain finding his best form again. 

Kompany is a wonderful professional and had been such a defensive force for so many seasons since he arrived at City in 2008, that many felt a summer of rest to refocus and recover fully from the series of injuries he’s had was all that was needed to see a full return to his former self. 

THOMAS KIENZLE/Getty Images

On the evidence of his 45-minute display at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, though, much more is required. His dip has been spectacular and hugely damaging to City. For so long the best defender in the Premier League, he now looks a liability every time the ball goes near him. 

He wasn't alone. Eliaquim Mangala displayed the same nervousness that ruined his first season at the club, and the full-backs, Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov, were dreadful. Stuttgart had hardly broken a sweat yet led 4-0 at the interval. 

All of the back four were constantly being dragged out of position. Stuttgart's forwards were allowed to run in behind unchecked. Throw in a few mis-controls and hospital passes, and it became a first half to forget for every member of the defence, who, in fairness, weren't helped by the lack of support from midfield. 

There were positives, though. David Silva, City’s star in Australia, shone once again and underlined his importance to the side, and Raheem Sterling registered a couple of assists and showed a frightening turn of pace that had the Stuttgart defenders scrambling to stop him.

And Kelechi Iheanacho, a second-half substitute, must surely be in contention to start at the Hawthorns next Monday, particularly if Pellegrini feels Sergio Aguero still needs additional time to recover from his Copa America exertions.

He scored a late consolation, tapping home with a first-time finish after Sterling’s ball across the box, and looked much fitter and sharper than Wilfried Bony, who started the game and got his first 45 minutes of pre-season under his belt. Iheanacho has brilliant, quick feet, neat close control and is capable of the audacious. His time has surely come. 

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MATCH SHOT: @67Kelechi gives chase in Stuttgart. #cityontour #mcfc pic.twitter.com/9kpltOpNVt

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 1, 2015"

Edin Dzeko, too, deserves a special mention. With a move to Roma nearing completion, he was asked to come on and give what looks likely to be a farewell cameo. He scored with two minutes remaining, gave the scoreline added respectability and offered one last glimpse of what he has brought to City over the years: goals. 

Dzeko annoys and frustrates, but he's made an outstanding contribution to City's recent success. World-class he is not; a scorer of vital goals and the man for the big occasion he most certainly has been. 

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ESPN claims City and Roma have agreed a fee of £16.2m (€23m) for Edin Dzeko, the same figure reported by CdS today. https://t.co/B2PYJ2k4DM

— City Watch (@City_Watch) August 1, 2015"

City, though, have work to do before next Monday's Premier League opener. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.