Chris Sutton, the former England international and pundit, has delivered a brutal verdict on Manchester City’s last 12 months, stating that the team is no longer watchable. Despite his harsh criticism, Sutton predicts that City will still win their upcoming match against Crystal Palace 2-1.
Sutton acknowledged that City could have problems against a well-balanced Palace side currently in better form than Pep Guardiola’s side. The pundit expressed concern at how far he feels City have fallen in the past 12 months.
“Even though Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah are suspended after being sent off against Brighton last week, Crystal Palace are a really well-balanced team who can cause Manchester City all sorts of problems with their 3-4-3 formation,” Sutton said on BBC Sport.
Sutton’s criticism of City’s recent form is scathing. He described their recent Manchester derby performance as “probably the dullest derby game I have ever watched”.
“You think about when Guardiola came over, and how he transformed the game. For years, City were so watchable. Now, if they were playing in my back garden I would close the curtains – although that would be a bit harsh on Palace,” Sutton added.
Despite his harsh words, Sutton still expects City to win the match against Palace. He predicts a 2-1 win for the still-reigning Premier League champions.
“I still cannot move away from a City win, however. I still expect them to win these kind of games at home, even if they are miles away from being the team they were 12 months ago,” Sutton said.
The stakes are high for City, as they look to get back into the Premier League’s top five and secure a Champions League spot. The additional Champions League spot means that the top five will qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.
City will be looking to overcome a Palace side that could move up to 46 points – seven points behind the top five with seven games left – should they triumph at the Etihad Stadium. The match promises to be an intriguing encounter, with both teams looking to achieve their respective goals.
