Defensive fragility was a key talking point for the club last season
Manchester City captain Ruben Dias has criticised his side’s defending after losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
City had started brightly at the Etihad but were undone when Richarlison outfoxed their offside trap and crossed for Brennan Johnson to put the away side ahead.
The afternoon quickly went from bad to worse for City when a routine goal kick turned into a gift for Spurs. Goalkeeper James Trafford played a short, tentative pass into Nico Gonzalez, who was already under pressure.
Tottenham soon won the ball in the box and it was dispatched by Palhinha.
“The second goal is unfortunate, it cannot happen,” said Dias. “We chased but there was a lot of things to do better.
“Not everything was good in our first game and not everything is bad now so we have to get back to work. Spurs are a team who can be very dangerous, they started the game very well. We didn’t react the best way in sticking to our game.”
The mistake has intensified scrutiny on City’s goalkeeping position. Ederson has been linked with a move away and Trafford has failed to seize his opportunity with both hands.
Asked about the possibility of Ederson leaving and the club signing a new goalkeeper, Pep Guardiola said: “We will see. We have one week with the club. We talk with the players, agents. We will see.”
