Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias of Manchester City react during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield
Ruben Dias and Manu Akanji
After Black Friday came Blue Monday.
Manchester City players woke up this week feeling further than ever from the Premier League title, having fallen 11 points behind leaders Liverpool after a limp 2-0 defeat at Anfield. Much better City teams have gone there and lost, but there was more confidence that those sides would be able to put it behind them.
There was more defiance from City as they left the pitch though, with Pep Guardiola and Ruben Dias insistent about his team in their post-match interviews. That feeling has spread to social media, where there has been a glut of posts from the players about how together they are.
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Kyle Walker issued a lengthy statement to speak directly to the fans, and Dias has been busy posting and commenting on the words of his teammates to show unity. The Portugal centre-back can come across a bit LinkedIn when he talks but has the trophies to back him up; this is his fifth season in the Premier League and his lowest finish has been first.
Even Erling Haaland has been active, posting for just the second time after a defeat this season with a picture of the team huddle to say: "We've seen better days before and we'll see them again. We keep believing." Many of the comments come from rival fans telling him to stay humble.
City players clearly want to send the sort of strong message that they are unable to do on the pitch right now, and back up Guardiola's words that they can turn the page after another disappointing result. And while social media can often show a filtered reality, there is little sign of a dressing room that is ready to quit or turn on each other.
It isn't like there are moans about the defending or the attacking not scoring, or a rush of players to sit out games until things get easier. Walker and Dias have led by example returning from injury to play, showing commitment even if that effort is yet to translate into results.
That message is now being pushed prominently ahead of a midweek game with Forest where Guardiola has called on the crowd yet plenty of tickets appeared to remain on sale ahead of it: stick with us through this because we are not going anywhere. Wednesday's game will show if the fans have reacted to it, and if the team can spark something from their determined front.
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