Manchester City: Talented defender set to take the wing back throne

Manchester City have acquired several new players this season with particular emphasis on wing-backs. Here I will explain why Benjamin Mendy is set to take the wing-back throne.

Manchester City £52m new signing Benjamin Mendy is set to become the best wing-back in the league this season.

Pep Guardiola has signed Danilo from Real Madrid, Kyle Walker from Tottenham and Benjamin Mendy from Monaco. And it’s the latter that will become City’s most important signing.

The Premier League has changed in the last two seasons. With new managers such as Chelsea’s Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola, comes new footballing philosophies for the English league. Chelsea’s Antonio Conte has revolutionized the way the game is played in England with the now very popular 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation. Before Conte, no teams even dared to play three at the back as it was considered footballing suicide. But now, after Chelsea’s huge success with playing three-in-the-back, teams are now emulating them.

Manchester City is one club that has emulated this model but to be fair to Pep, he has brought his own footballing philosophy with an emphasis on wing-backs marauding forward. While Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso had a hugely successful season after being deployed as left wing-back, I expect Benjamin Mendy to take the throne as the best wing-back in the league.

Last season, Alonso scored a remarkable six goals and made three assists from 31 appearances (Whoscored). But, Mendy, this season has already notched up an assist and a clean sheet in two appearances. Not bad.

Mendy has also already made two key passes leading to goal chances while also making two successful crosses from 18 total crosses.

Although Alonso has scored two goals already, expect Mendy to improve his numbers drastically in the coming weeks as he adjusts to the Premier League.

The 23-year-old played fantastically for Monaco last season too which earned him a big money move to the Premier League. He made a total of eight assists from both the Ligue 1 and Champions League games. And while he didn’t score any goals, I’d expect him to get among the score sheet at Manchester City.

His crossing is clearly his strong point and I’d expect him to rack up a number of assists this season by teeing up Aguero and Jesus and co.

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The days of traditional midfield wingers are numbered as the game has moved onto wing-backs and inverted wingers who cut inside. Look for Mendy, Walker, Tottenham’s Serge Aurier  and Chelsea’s Alonso among others to have a big impact this season.