Manchester City have several problems that need fixing before the Premier League gets back underway in August.
The Manchester club struggled with counterattacks last season, and that was evident against Al-Hilal, leaving Bernardo Silva frustrated with Man City’s inability to control transitions.
This is a major issue Pep Guardiola needs to address over the coming weeks, and the legendary coach will be keen to fix some problems with new signings.
Man City could still address one more role in their team before the summer transfer window shuts, and Micah Richards thinks it would be a good idea, as one star could become a problem for the Premier League giants over the next 12 months.
Micah Richards doing punditry work during Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Matheus Nunes could become a problem for Man City
With Kyle Walker leaving Man City for AC Milan halfway through last season, and Rico Lewis struggling for form, Guardiola opted to use Matheus Nunes at right-back for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, and it had surprising results as the Portuguese star stepped up.
Man City fans were impressed with Nunes’ performances as the Manchester club pushed for a place in the 25/26 Champions League; however, the Al-Hilal defeat on Monday night in Orlando highlighted that the 26-year-old is not the long-term solution.
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Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Richards admitted that he was also impressed with how Nunes played at right-back last season; however, the pundit feels that the £53m star could be “a problem” when City face better teams and players over the next 12 months.
“I think Nunes improved massively into the season. I think if you ask a midfielder to play right back, obviously, that’s not his strength. I think he improved defensively,” the former Man City star said.
“But I think when you’re in that position, and I think when you look at the top right backs in world football, football’s changed a little bit. We talk about Trent so much, don’t we? And we talk about Hakimi.
“But back when we were defending, our first thought was to stop the cross, or do a tackle, or get in his head, make sure the first tackle, he really feels you. Football’s not like that right now. And for Man City’s system, it works, and he’s done all right.
“But when you come up against better players who can hurt you in one-on-one situations, that’s when it becomes a problem.”
Man City are in the market for a new right-back, and Guardiola will hope to find another Walker before the Premier League gets back underway.
Matheus Nunes prepares to take a throw-in during Man City vs Juventus.
Photo by Marc Guelber/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images
Manchester City miss peak Kyle Walker says Micah Richards
Walker will go down as one of the best, if not the greatest, right-back ever seen in the Premier League after the many successful campaigns he experienced with Man City.
The Englishman was lightning quick, was very good one-on-one, and had brilliant strength that helped him bully wingers, and Richards believes Man City have struggled without peak Walker in their team, as the full-back got Guardiola’s side out of trouble many times.
“Obviously, losing Kyle Walker was massive because when Man City were at their absolute best, Kyle Walker, on the transition, at his recovery pace, got him out of trouble time and time and time again,” the pundit said on The Rest Is Football.
It will be hard for Man City to find another player with the attributes of Walker; however, a right-back of any kind is certainly needed before the transfer window shuts.