SHOCKING NEWS: Manchester city Guardiola has blasted and sent a warning to one of his players after the team’s narrow win against Brentford in the premier league. The manager singled out the player after his poor performance to the draw, calling him a “game killer” He wants shouting at, I nearly said something else then he’s main reasons we drew the match. that’s why the fans don’t respect his presence in the team. and has no importance to the team. ” I think it’s high time for him to leave he cost us this match”.
Manchester City clinched a narrow 1-0 victory against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Tuesday, February 20, propelling them back into second place, one point ahead of Arsenal and one behind Liverpool. The win marked a return to form for City, who entered the match on the heels of a seven-game unbeaten streak, comprising six victories and a draw. Their previous encounter, a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at home, left Pep Guardiola’s side feeling they had missed an opportunity. Eager to maintain pace with Arsenal and Liverpool, Guardiola fielded a formidable starting lineup.
In contrast, Brentford approached the match following a less impressive run of form, with two wins and three losses in their last five games. They scored nine goals while conceding 12 during this period. Their most recent match ended in a 4-1 defeat against Liverpool as Thomas Frank’s team aimed to bounce back with a stronger showing.
Manchester City asserted dominance early in the game, controlling possession with 69% of the ball in the first half. This allowed them to dictate play in Brentford’s half and create numerous scoring opportunities. Despite attempting 17 shots in the first half, only six were on target. The hosts also completed nearly double the passes of their opponents, aiming to exhaust Brentford by forcing them to chase the game. However, both teams entered halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
The second half saw Manchester City maintain their possession dominance at 72%, although the frequency of shots decreased. Guardiola’s side demonstrated improved decision-making, resulting in eight attempts on goal, two of which were on target. Erling Haaland broke the deadlock in the 71st minute, capitalizing on a pass from Julian Alvarez to score the game’s lone goal. Manchester City held on for the victory, while Brentford suffered their 14th loss of the season.
Now, let’s analyze the standout performers and underperformers from the match.
**Hit – Rodri (Manchester City):**
Rodri delivered another commanding performance in midfield for Manchester City, amassing an impressive 126 touches and boasting an 89% pass accuracy rate. He also contributed five key passes and excelled defensively, winning 11 duels and making four clearances, one interception, and one tackle.
**Flop – Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford):**
Despite an otherwise solid defensive display, Ajer’s mistake proved costly when he slipped, allowing Haaland to score the decisive goal. While he made eight clearances and one block, his error overshadowed his contributions.
**Hit – Mark Flekken (Brentford):**
Flekken stood out with a stellar performance in goal, making a total of nine saves to keep Brentford in the game. His agility and shot-stopping ability thwarted numerous attempts from Manchester City, including six saves from shots inside the box.
**Flop – Ivan Toney (Brentford):**
Toney struggled to make an impact, managing just 45 touches and losing possession 18 times. He failed to register a shot on target and struggled to assert himself against City’s defense, leaving Brentford lacking a key attacking threat.
**Hit – Erling Haaland (Manchester City):**
Haaland once again proved his worth as City’s main attacking threat, scoring the decisive goal and attempting six shots throughout the match. Despite facing a resilient Flekken in goal, he showcased his quality with precise passing and contributed to City’s victory.
