Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has delivered a stark verdict to Pep Guardiola, urging the Manchester City manager to address his team's defensive frailties instead of blaming officials after a dramatic 2-1 defeat at St James' Park.
Controversy and Clashes at St James' Park
The Premier League clash on Saturday evening saw Newcastle United emerge victorious with two second-half goals from Harvey Barnes. The match, however, was marred by controversy surrounding the winning goal. VAR took several minutes to confirm that Bruno Guimaraes was onside in the build-up, while Manchester City players argued that their goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was fouled in the process.
The frustration boiled over after the final whistle, with a visibly furious Guardiola confronting Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, as well as referee Sam Barrott. The result brought a halt to City's momentum following an impressive 3-0 win over Liverpool before the international break.
Shearer's Blunt Assessment
Rather than sympathising with Guardiola's grievances, Alan Shearer used his platform on Premier League Productions to highlight what he sees as a more profound issue for the reigning champions. "I understand his frustration because his team have been beaten and well-beaten in that second half," Shearer stated. "They didn’t create a lot. He’s raw just after the game... but for me the concern would be how many chances they are giving up, not any refereeing decisions or bad luck."
The former England striker pointed to Newcastle's missed opportunities as evidence of City's defensive decline. "If Newcastle had their shooting boots on, they should have scored six or seven – they missed four absolute sitters," Shearer claimed. "The way they carved City open would be a bigger concern for me."
A Deeper Problem for Manchester City
Shearer expanded on his criticism, suggesting that this Manchester City side is a shadow of the team that dominated English football in recent seasons. "They are certainly not as good as they were, and we might never see them as good as what they were when they were on that unbelievable run," he said, referencing the high standards of trophy wins and goalscoring they previously set.
A key factor in this perceived decline, according to Shearer, is the absence of the influential Rodri. "They are certainly not the same team without the brilliant Rodri and the protection he gives them... I’m not sure they’ve replaced him as yet."
While acknowledging that City will always be a threat going forward with Erling Haaland, who was kept quiet by Newcastle's defence, Shearer concluded that the real weakness lies at the back. "Defensively they certainly aren’t as sharp as they used to be," he asserted.
The defeat leaves Manchester City third in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Arsenal, who had a chance to extend their lead in the North London derby against Tottenham the following day.
