This is Manchester City’s 2016/17 Christmas review

CON – They can’t defend

However, that feel good factor that surrounded their excellent start hasn’t really been seen since they lost 2-0 away at Tottenham on October 2.

And that’s mainly because City look hopelessly inept at the back.

They have not kept a clean sheet since their 4-0 thumping of West Brom on October 29, they’ve played eight games since then, and that clean sheet is the only one in their last 17 games, dating back to their 4-0 win over Bournemouth on September 17.

That is simply not good enough, and is not going to win you titles.

Claudio Bravo has been hugely unconvincing since he arrived in England, while John Stones continues to make costly errors. Nicolas Otamendi has arguably been their best defender so far, and he had a horror show against Chelsea ten days ago.

Guardiola keeps switching between a back four and a back three because, arguably, he doesn’t know who his best defenders are, and whether or not they can play the way he wants them to play.

Seven goals in their last two games, some of which were avoidable, has summed up City’s defensive capabilities over the last few months.