BACK TO BASICS
Talk about show and tell, doing your opposing manager’s team talk for him. On Saturday, while Ange Postecoglou prepared Tottenham for their tea-time kick-off, the Etihad was staging a celebration of Rodri’s Ballon d’Or, Ballon d’Or, Ballon d’Or that WWE would have been proud of. Only the great man’s knee-knack prevented him doing the full Vince McMahon power strut down the red carpet. There it was in huge gold letters, the answer to Tottenham’s prayers, the name of the man that City are lacking, and will continue to lack, Rodri. Spurs duly won 4-0. A one-man team? Let’s not get silly now. Mateo Kovacic, holder of four Big Cup winners’ medals, was also missing. An old team? Perhaps we’re getting closer since in the five-game losing run that has Pep Guardiola rubbing his cranium like he’s polishing an unearthed Roman coin, there has been much creaking. Worse, a lot of pointing. A true giveaway sign of the ageing pro is asking others to do as I say, not what I do as my legs can’t get me there.
