Wearing a new kit designed as a homage to an Oasis album, Manchester City produced a performance in their opening tilt at this season's Champions League that was neither 'definitely' nor 'maybe'.
The only thing that was clear about City's display at the Etihad, in fact, was that they were outplayed by an Inter Milan team they beat in the final of the competition in Istanbul in June of last year to lift the trophy for the first time.
Inter, the reigning Italian champions, may have lost Romelu Lukaku and Andre Onana from that side but they have improved immeasurably under the continuing tutelage of coach Simone Inzaghi and, even though Ilkay Gundogan, missed two fine chances to put City ahead with headers in the dying minutes, the least Inter deserved was a share of the spoils.
Many had anticipated that Erling Haaland would grace the occasion by scoring his 100th goal for City in his 104th appearance but Haaland was rarely in the game. Instead, the match was dominated by the skills of Nicolo Barella and Piotr Zielinksi in the Inter midfield. Only their lack of clinical finishing prevented them winning.
After City's perfect start to their domestic season, Inter provided opposition that was on a different level. City's struggles may have encouraged Arsenal, who City meet here on Sunday. Pep Guardiola will also be concerned about the fitness of Kevin de Bruyne, who was withdrawn at half time.
City had given a first start of the season to Rodri, which seemed gently ironic given that the man many believe to be the best player in the Premier League had spoken this week of how footballers were ready to go on strike because of the amount of games they are being asked to play.
Rodri has not started a club game since he played for Spain in the final of the European Championship on July 14th, which was his 63rd game of last season. Many heap scorn on his complaints but, as the new expanded format of the Champions League kicks in, he has a point.
Other players, including Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Barcelona's Jules Kounde, have made similar pleas for an end to the relentless season-creep in which clubs, governing bodies and broadcasters are complicit as they try to eke more and more money from the game.
The difficult part for the players is that when they set out their grievances, the first people they should be presenting them to are the executives at their clubs who are perfectly happy to take the money for punishing pre-season tours and television deals that exacerbate the demands of the schedule.
It may be a while, for instance, until we hear any complaints from Spurs about the demands on their players, given that they chose to fly them to the other side of the world for friendlies in Australia at the end of last season when they were already exhausted after a long season.
Rodri and the rest of City's midfield dominated possession in the early stages of the game but it was Inter who looked the more threatening of the two going forward.
Several times, the pace and control of Marcus Thuram and Mehdi Taremi discomfited City when the Italians counter-attacked. Both forwards lacked the confidence to make the most of those early opportunities and their attacks petered out.
City offered only a sporadic threat. A powerful header from Haaland was plucked from underneath the crossbar by Yann Sommer and Savinho blazed high and wide when a cross found him on the edge of the area.
City laboured and the atmosphere was muted. Piotr Zielinski enlivened play with a brilliant burst forward from the edge of the Inter box that was brought to an abrupt end by a tackle from Ruben Dias that earned the Portugal defender a yellow card.
City began to rediscover their brio as half time approached. Haaland pulled a shot just wide and a minute later, Bernardo Silva should have scored when a low cross found him 10 yards out. He tried to sweep it past Sommer first time but thrashed at thin air instead.
Inter wasted a chance of their own when Kevin de Bruyne was caught in possession deep in his own half and the ball was played in to Thuram. Thuram opened his body and tried to sidefoot the ball past Ederson but struck it well wide.
Not many teams make City look one-dimensional but Inter managed it a few times. They operated between the lines again and again, turning City inside out, making them back-pedal.
In the closing seconds of the half, Carlos Augusto surged into the box and tried to beat Ederson from a tight angle. Ederson got down sharply to keep it out but If Inter had been more ruthless in front of goal, they would have led going into the break.
Guardiola made two changes at the break. De Bruyne, who appeared to have picked up an injury late in the first half, was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan, and Phil Foden came on for Savinho, who had had a relatively anonymous opening 45 minutes.
It had no immediate effect on Inter, who wasted another golden opportunity to open the scoring eight minutes into the second half.
Matteo Darmian, once of Manchester United, bore down on goal but with only Ederson to beat, he inexplicably decided that the best course of action was to try to backheel the ball into the path of Nicolo Barella. Barella was as surprised as everybody else and promptly fell over.
On the touchline, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi was so angry he looked as if he were about to combust.
Midway through the half, Inter nearly paid for their profligacy when some beautifully intricate interplay between Jack Grealish and Gundogan created a chance for Foden ten yards out. Foden should have scored but his shot was too close to Sommer, who smothered it.
City started to pile on the pressure now. There was a feeling that the match's momentum, finally, had swung towards the home team. Grealish was a constant threat on the left and there was general dismay inside the stadium when Barella upended him unceremoniously and somehow escaped a booking.
Inter tried to regain control and 15 minutes from the end Denzel Dumfries sprinted down the right and crossed towards fellow substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan who met it on the penalty spot.
Mkhitaryan hit it sweetly but the ball whistled inches over the bar. On the touchline, Inzaghi provided the entertainment again, falling to his knees and beating the ground with his fists.
zebceiknru
0
The only team that always come out and play football against city is Liverpool the rest of the team play low block and use their wingers and defenders and once they play 0:0 they’ll come and celebrate and tell you how they almost finish city funny dudes 😂
BlueBlackSnake
0
writer uneducated or Man City hater.
I saw the match and it was true lol.
Dante101
0
and who was feeding him balls in premier league??
the same players that play so pridictably. the champions league is more difficult for city cuz there are managers who alr beat a pep gaudiola team tht has ideas to beat pep but in the primier league pep knows them inside out.
Dante101
0
good question ❓
thats what u call a good question 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 i swear yall ppl b watch the grass and not how to play the sport. yall must b terrible at chess
JosephLuciano
0
please tell me people that you actually not expected Manchester to win ..... they should of never win the last time that they played inter , and they should of definitely lost yesterday. English soccer is not that good and all does teams are made of millions of dollars... anyway, if Darmien take the shot, inter would of win is that simple.
Lovebug2
0
They hate City so much that they created a lobby group which headed by Tebas and 115 charges. Fools them
ManCityFanForever
1
writer uneducated or Man City hater.
City_Guy
0
Tap in Halaad good for small teams like Ipswich
Liverpool must be a small team then
City_Guy
1
This writer is an angry reporter. Did you watch the match? Even if you only see the Stat, it says the opposite of your write up. Inter had how many clear chances compare to that of City? If City were clinical in the first half only, it would have been 3 goals. Some of you just got a pen or keyboard and type nonsense.
Ramseytune
0
City had 15 shots against 10 city had 60 to 40 of possession so how on earth is someone trying to convince us that Inter outplayed City. some of you don't know how to hide your enviness for City
[image]
I just came to realise that people don't like city for anything
fipbdisyz
2
City had 15 shots against 10 city had 60 to 40 of possession so how on earth is someone trying to convince us that Inter outplayed City. some of you don't know how to hide your enviness for City
pudklnrt
2
Don't write articles on behalf..This is Arsenal writer, City can be out played but u cannot beat them still,then u re as good as nothing...If they draw with Inter , doesn't mean it will be the same as Arsenal game..
bamadiloty
1
Tap in Halaad good for small teams like Ipswich
TiyanjaneChalamwendo
5
i think the writer was watching a different game
Pocdinyz
1
heey relax! city fans shut it..! you were Outplayed simple and clear. you should be happy Inter weren't clinical in the final third.. ain't the end of the world though, champions league just begun 👎🥱
Moschino™
2
GUNDOGAN MISSED CHANCES CAUSED ALL THESE USELESS WRITE-UPS, SMH
Jukacmnpy
3
Even if I struggle with English language, I think the word outplayed has been misused. City dominated all the 2nd half in every aspect of the game. How can you say City were outplayed. Anyway we know sometimes you write these things to look for our attention.
Vuudnpsuz
0
and who was feeding him balls in premier league??
good question ❓
yumdkrtyz
2
you are a fuckin enemy of man city if not for the missed chances I believe you won't have what to write
ChinonsoNwankwo
0
they play so pridictably thats y they didnt have a chance at goal that actually scored. grealish & doku cant dribble past players and savio to hyper to have composure infront of goal.bernado kevin and gundoan bodies cant really keep up to the way the manager wants them to play whilst lewis cant give a discent forword pass in a good area to save his life. at least Dias Akanji Graviol and Ederson was playing proper doh. Haaland neva got the ball in good areas because orther players went 4 glory themselves and mised the goal completely
and who was feeding him balls in premier league??
steppenwolfxcity
2
when you outplay someone you have to win not draw..pathetic!!!
Sutadkmuyz
0
when Inter drew with chelsea in preseason, people were trashing Maresca that he has poor tactics,and now I hope they have admitted yesterday that they were wrong. Inter looks simply and weak on the map,but physical, they are desert stone. They are not easy to score them.
Dante101
1
they play so pridictably thats y they didnt have a chance at goal that actually scored. grealish & doku cant dribble past players and savio to hyper to have composure infront of goal.bernado kevin and gundoan bodies cant really keep up to the way the manager wants them to play whilst lewis cant give a discent forword pass in a good area to save his life. at least Dias Akanji Graviol and Ederson was playing proper doh. Haaland neva got the ball in good areas because orther players went 4 glory themselves and mised the goal completely