Life without Kevin De Bruyne.
Absent for having tested positive for Covid-19 on his return to selection this week, the Belgian strategist from Manchester City must stop for 10 days and will be THE big absent Wednesday from the Champions League meeting against PSG.
Even if his sense of passing and his efficiency in front of the goal will be missed by the Citizens, they have the workforce both quantitative and qualitative to alleviate his absence.
This Sunday against Everton on the 12th day of the Premier League, the Mancunians once again showed their sense of collective to win (3-0) easily in front of the 2nd club Liverpool. Quickly, Pep Guardiola's men confiscated the ball and dominated their opponent. The Spanish technician had articulated his team in 4-3-3 with Aymeric Laporte associated with John Stones in the central axis, Rodri, Gündogan, and the new English nugget Cole Palmer (19-year-old international prospect) in place of De Bruyne in the middle and Sterling, Silva and Foden in attack. Portuguese central defender Ruben Dias and Algerian attacking midfielder Riyad Mahrez were on the sidelines.
After several alerts on Everton's goal including a header from Bernardo Silva on Pickford's crossbar (29th), Manchester City logically opens the scoring. At 30m from the opposing goals, Cancelo sends a millimeter pass in depth for Sterling who instantly resumes in the top pickford (1-0, 44th). Back from the locker room, Rodri scored the goal of the break on a strike at 20m (2-0, 55th) before Bernardo Silva worsened the score at the end of the game (3-0, 86th) following a beautiful collective movement (3-0, 86th). Thanks to this 8th success in 12 games, the Mancuniens recover 2nd place, 3 units behind the leader Chelsea. On Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium, they will want to erase their defeat in the first leg (2-0) at the Parc des Princes on September 28. The first place of the group is at stake. The shock promises to be fascinating.