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Perhaps Manchester City brought upon themselves the tense finale, the frustration, the sheer exasperation. Not merely through conceding unnecessary free kicks or squandering a multitude of chances, including hitting the post twice, but through their light-hearted exchanges with Bernardo Silva in the lead-up to this visit to Monaco.
City hadn’t ventured to the synthetic state since 2017, during a thrilling last-16 clash that saw both teams net 12 goals, with Silva shining before his move to England. Pep Guardiola tends to hold onto past grievances, and as they recalled that defeat earlier in the week, he playfully chided Silva – now City’s captain – about Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz favoring Monaco with his decisions during those two legs, a memory that still stings.
Little did anyone anticipate that in the dying moments of what ought to have been a straightforward Champions League away win – their first in five matches, extending over a year – the outcome would rest on a Spanish official’s call.
Dier scored, City squandered two points, and Guardiola was left haunted by Lahoz’s actions from years ago, an enduring echo in his mind, refusing to fade away.
‘I’ve nothing to say on Spanish referees,’ he remarked with sarcasm and emphasis. A painfully familiar narrative in Europe: City exited with bruises from the ordeal, clearly frustrated with themselves as well.
Former Tottenham and England star Eric Dier scored a late penalty to deny Manchester City their first away victory in the Champions League, as Monaco secured a 2-2 draw in the Principality.
Monaco were awarded a late penalty after Nico Gonzalez made contact with Dier in the area
Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to pull off any last-gasp heroics as Dier converted from spot
DIER TAKEN FOR A SPIN
A guy hailing from a village near Oldham decided to rent a McLaren and whizz it through Monte Carlo on Wednesday night.
The exact location of his home was quickly apparent because on the roof of the sports car fluttered a City flag with the name Dobcross plastered across it.
Quite the spectacle for the locals who have to prove how wealthy they are before purchasing property here. All good fun, whizzing within the law, something a bit different in a principality of plastic.
He drove around the Monaco Grand Prix circuit like he was worth a million dollars but had come to see somebody valued at considerably more later in the day. One hundred times more? One hundred and fifty?
Erling Haaland took Dier for a spin or two as he continues to back up Guardiola’s assertion that City’s No 9 is going from strength to strength. Two goals on the night, both relying on supreme physique and scoring nous.
He revs the engine in sharp aggressive bursts for the quick laps, no tapping the break when games are there to win.
Dier will have felt as if he was in the front seat of that McLaren without a seat belt. UEFA should start providing Haaland’s markers with crash helmets, really.
Yet he still isn’t happy and partially blamed himself for the result. ‘I didn’t score or finish the game – so no [I’m not],’ he fumed.
Dier had the unenviable task of marking Haaland during the match – but had the last laugh
Erling Haaland could not hide his fury at full-time as he held his Player of the Match award
The striker continued his hot streak in front of goal with two fine finishes during the away draw
PEP STILL TINKERING
There are clearly things that Guardiola is trying to work through at the moment, different ways of playing, and the decision to name John Stones at right back is evidence of that.
Stones hadn’t operated there since February 2024 – and not in the Champions League for almost three years.
With Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis both on the bench, this was obviously something new to study rather than preserving any legs.
Stones did occasionally move into the middle of the park, as he did so magnificently from centre half during the Treble run.
The concept from full back is not alien for Stones himself but is new for somebody like Tijjani Reijnders to become familiar with, learning not to take up the same spaces.
Moments arrived where Guardiola was seeing what the coaching staff wanted and watching Stones stride ahead of Haaland when possession was over the other side of the pitch presented an intriguing development.
Guardiola mimed a dinking motion to the bench – a bench including ex-Liverpool coach James French, who has copied old boss Jurgen Klopp’s routine of staring down the opposition in the warm-ups – as if that had been a well-executed plan as City attempt to find fresh ways of attacking. They just needed a couple more.
Pep Guardiola has been left with plenty to ponder as he continues to tinker with his tactics
John Stones was deployed at right back – a role he hasn’t played in since February of last year
Monaco’s Jordan Teze levelled terms in the 18th minute to the delight of the home support
ADVERSITY BITES AGAIN
Guardiola’s discomfort with how City reacted to adversity in August, during defeats against Tottenham and Brighton, centred on his players not following the plan.
There were some short spells where Monaco built a head of steam and City needing to regroup. They had appeared more willing to continue doing the same things and not worry about the consequences.
The caveat for that ought to have been that Monaco are much inferior opposition. Manager Adi Hutter and sporting director Carlos Ibarrola under increasing pressure from supporters and with Paul Pogba – still not fit after signing in the summer – sat in his private box.
But they couldn’t see it out regardless, Haaland suggesting their energy levels dipped too much and there wasn’t enough intensity in the performance.
Guardiola though believes he saw enough to warrant enthusiasm at continued improvement. ‘In the analysis, the game was really good – many things were very good,’ he said. Maybe I have to watch it tomorrow but the feeling I have is good.’
