Our pre-season friendly games – Summary

I just thought I’d sum up how we lined up and got on in our two pre-season matches for those who might not have followed our lad’s match activities…

v Club America:

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

 

____________________Alvarez____________________

 

 

Grealish_________________________________Mahrez

__________De Bruyne_________Silva______________

 

_____________________Rodri____________________

Cancelo_________________________________Walker

 

_____________Ake_____________Mbete___________

 

 

____________________Ortega____________________

Subs:

Ederson (not used)

Scott Carson (not used)

Josh Wilson-Esbrand (used)

Rico Lewis (used)

Finley Burns (not used)

Kalvin Phillips (used as a central defender for the first 30 minutes of the second half; defensive midfielder for the last 15)

Cole Palmer (used)

James McAtee (used)

Ben Knight (used)

Oscar Bobb (used)

Kayky (used)

Liam Delap (used)

Erling Haaland (not used)

Result: Manchester City 2-1 Club America

City goals: Kevin De Bruyne 2

v FC Bayern Munich:

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

 

____________________Haaland___________________

 

 

Grealish_________________________________Mahrez

__________De Bruyne_________Silva______________

 

_____________________Rodri____________________

Wilson-Esbrand_________________________Cancelo

 

_____________Ake_____________Dias_____________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Just 4 changes from our first, pre-season outing there…

Subs:

Stefan Ortega (not used)

Scott Carson (not used)

Kyle Walker (used as a central defender alongside Nathan Ake)

Rico Lewis (used)

Luke Mbete (not used)

Finley Burns (not used)

Kalvin Phillips (used)

Cole Palmer (used)

James McAtee (not used)

Ben Knight (not used)

Oscar Bobb (not used)

Kayky (not used)

Liam Delap (not used)

Julian Alvarez (used)

Result: Bayern Munich 0-1 Manchester City

City goal: Erling Haaland

The start of the game was delayed by 16 minutes due to the threat of a lightening storm; where fans waiting in the stands for kick-off were asked to leave their seats and take shelter in the concourse areas of the ground.

Then, after Erling Haaland’s 12^th-minute goal, the referee took the players off the pitch for the same safety reasons, as the threat had returned.

It was also decided after that break in play that the teams would play just 40-minutes each half as opposed to the regulation 45.

Man of the matches:

Kevin De Bruyne. Looks fit ‘n’ lean and seems to have gained a bit of pace too, I thought!

·         Julian Alvarez looks the exciting, threatening & adaptable player I thought we were getting (I’m thrilled to have this guy as well as Haaland, of course)

·         Cole Palmer looked as enthusiastic & threatening as ever, especially in the second game.

·         One really notable performance against Bayern was young left-wing back, Josh Wilson-Esbrand; who most definitely staked his claim for more involvement [than last season] with the first team, should we fail to bring in a specialist left-wing back from another club.

·         If anyone was wondering if Pep might tweak something in order to accommodate us-now-having an out & out striker, particularly when Erling is ‘that man’; then it was noted by one reporter that in both games, Bernardo Silva was sitting a little deeper and helping to ‘mop up’, retrieve the ball and start the turn-over of play, as Jack, Kevin, Riyad & Erling / Julian did the bulk of the attacking work.

To sum up: Good performances, two wins, fitness gained and, crucially, no reported injuries!

Next up?

The Community Shield v Liverpool at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium – Saturday 30^th July, 5:00pm KO (BST).

Travel warning for those who may not know!

Unless the situation changes, there will be a national rail strike on the day the Manchester Blues take on the Merseyside Reds in that so-called ‘curtain-raiser’ match on the 30^th.