Man City's 'Oasis' kit wasn't the only thing that failed to inspire on drab Etihad evening
MAN CITY 0-0 INTER MILAN: A competitive fixture between the champions of England and the champions of Italy can never have carried so little jeopardy, so little tension, so little intensity
by Andy Dunn · The MirrorFirst things first, the kit. If it is not too late, the aberration of a fourth strip that Manchester City were somehow allowed to wear in their opening Champions League match should be charge number 116.
There was some speculation on social media that it must have been the product of a primary school design-a-kit competition, but that is an insult to the taste of our under-10s. Apparently, it is something to do with Oasis. If so, it is as big a crime as dynamic ticket pricing.
But UEFA being unperturbed by this sort of gimmickry is unsurprising, seen as though this Champions League format is as gimmicky as it comes.
A competitive fixture between the champions of England and the champions of Italy can never have carried so little jeopardy, so little tension, so little intensity. Pleasant enough game but both sides will be in the knockout stages, end of story.
Ahead of Sunday’s home game against Arsenal, the intriguing aspect of this contest was how City surrendered so many chances and half-chances, albeit against an accomplished side.
Mikel Arteta will have looked at this match and finalised his tactical blueprint for the weekend. In the first half, Inter had ten shots at City’s goal, the most by a visiting Champions League since Monaco had the same amount in a 2017 fixture.
It goes without saying that Arteta will use a counter-attacking plan at the Etihad and the chances are the Gunners will be more ruthless than the Serie A champions.
There is a school of thought that believes City’s four-game winning start to the Premier League has been achieved without the holders being anywhere close to top form - and this performance would back that theory up.
On occasions, for example, it looked like Rodri was already on strike and Ruben Dias was consistently exposed by the pace of Inter’s breakaway men.
But the fact is that City’s meeting with the Gunners will have a more important feel to it and will be played in a better atmosphere. And at least the players will not be forced to wear that shocker of a kit again.
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