‘Fragile, Frail & Weak’: Man City’s Defensive Woes Persist After Feyenoord Draw

Manchester City’s defensive struggles continued on Tuesday night as they were held to a 3-3 draw against Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola described his side as “fragile,” while critics labeled them “weak” and “frail” after they squandered a three-goal lead.

Instead of heading to Liverpool on Sunday with the confidence of a much-needed win, City now face their Premier League title rivals with more concerns about their defensive vulnerabilities.

The draw against Feyenoord marks a disappointing continuation of City’s recent defensive issues, as they have now conceded two or more goals in six consecutive matches across all competitions for the first time since May 1963.

The match started in promising fashion for City, as they surged to a 3-0 lead just eight minutes into the second half, with Erling Haaland scoring in the 53rd minute. At that point, the defending European champions seemed on track to end a five-match losing streak. However, Feyenoord mounted a surprising comeback, with the visitors managing to equalize and leaving City frustrated at full-time.

Speaking to Amazon Prime, former England captain Alan Shearer was critical of City’s lack of composure, especially late in the game. “They look weak, they look light, they look frail,” he said. “Even with two minutes to go and 3-2 up, they take a quick free-kick. Why? Kill the game. They were in such a comfortable position.”

The result raises further questions about City’s defensive stability as they prepare for a crucial Premier League clash at Anfield this weekend.