It’s no secret Manchester City have had a defensive issue for some time. Ever since the partnership between Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott was broken up in 2012, the club hasn’t been able to get a unit that has looked consistently solid—aside from a short spell where Martin Demichelis overcame his poor form and worked well alongside the captain in 2014.
The club’s hierarchy has been aware of the issue too, with plenty of money being spent in an attempt to solve the issue. The likes of Matija Nastasic, Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi have all been brought in—for a combined total of nearly £85 million—and City’s defence is looking weaker than it has for a long time.