Monday 2 March 2015 10:37, UK
Manuel Pellegrini's tactics against Barcelona and Liverpool have damaged his reputation as a manager, says Niall Quinn.
The Manchester City boss opted to play two up front in each game - and lost both the Champions League last-16 first leg and the Premier League contest by 2-1 scorelines.
Quinn argued that deploying both Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero in attack left Man City outnumbered in midfield and Pellegrini - who defended the tactic in his post-match interview at Anfield on Sunday - must learn to adapt.
"The way they set themselves up has not done them any favours," Quinn told Sky Sports.
His (Pellegrini's) reputation is damaged. He has got to learn to adapt and play one up front.
"He has not adapted to the changing fortunes of his team, the age profile of his team and their ability to go and win this title again.
"He was an excellent choice as manager, he put all the fires out, he brought harmony to these great players and they looked a team. But he has to adapt and change as the needs change.
"That's what Brendan Rodgers has done so successfully. Rodgers has trumped him today with his system and way of playing that Pellegrini’s 4-4-2 looked old and stale.
"His reputation is damaged and it’s damaged more by him defending it in the interview. He has got to learn to adapt and play one up front."
Approach
City had thumped Newcastle 5-0 in their previous Premier League match but Graeme Souness says it is against the top domestic and European teams that Pellegrini must alter his approach.
And the Sky Sports pundit criticised the City manager for not adapting, despite the team experiencing similar problems last season.
"It's interesting he still defends his take on his team, where even in the big games he's going with two strikers," said Souness.
"If you look at the last two years, when people were questioning why they weren't doing well in Europe, well, when they go to Europe they're generally playing at a different level in the Champions League to teams they're playing most weeks in the Premier League.
"They're getting found out by playing with two strikers against the best teams in Europe - and the same when they play the better teams in the Premier League. They got found out on Sunday, they got over run in there.
"It's alright playing two strikers when you’re dominating the ball and you're on the front foot all the time. But if that's not happening, then you need to be a different team.
"Neither Aguero nor Dzeko want to drop off and make another man in midfield so the midfield four, when they weren’t on the front foot, were vulnerable to Liverpool’s smart passing in midfield.
"That's not changed. That was last year, when we pointed fingers at him for going with two strikers in the bigger games."
