Maybe it was just a coincidence. Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly gave the ball, and as a result goals, away. Rodri flew into a rash, and uncharacteristic, challenge and conceded a penalty, if not a goal when Harry Kane struck the bar. The common denominator, besides the fact each happened in Spain’s 3-2 win over England, is that they were Manchester City teammates last season. Thomas Tuchel denied his two defenders were distracted by the events of the previous day. It would be understandable if they were.
Rodri, too. For City alumni like him, there are legacies on the line. For the current squad, there are rather greater implications from the revelations the club has been found guilty of 114 of the charges the Premier League levelled. If so, City are highly likely to appeal. They are conscious at the Etihad Stadium that Uefa gave them a two-year Champions League ban in 2020 and it was later overturned. None of which guarantees a repeat and a reprieve now. With punishments potentially including huge points penalties and, directly or indirectly, ending up out of the Premier League, there might be an existential threat, even before factoring in the chance other clubs could take legal action against City which could radically reshape their finances.
