Real Madrid? Man City is just fighting to beat Leyton Orient

As introductions to English football go, this was about as unusual as it becomes. Two of Manchester City’s four mid-season signatures made their debut in Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup Fourth Round Victory (Stream a repeat on ESPN+, US only) In League One Minnows Leyton Orient. Nico Gonzalez lasted 22 minutes before the damage hit and Vitorer Reis were taken off at half -time.

It was partly a testimony of Orient’s persistence and the tross, which at one point put them on course for one of the great cups of the great cups, after already producing one of the great cups of dimensions at all times.

Jamie Donley‘s fantastic 45-yard efforts will go into the record books as a Stefan Ortega Own goal, given City’s goalkeeper, had the last touch when Orient Forwards long -range strike hit the crossbar. But it’s Donley’s name that will go down like giving the moment that will last life in the mind of all 8,749 fans stuffed into the Gaughan Group Stadium on a wet and cold day in eastern London.

The city was firmly by Gonzalez, a deadline of 50 million pounds of £ 50 million from FC Porto was buried by Charlie Kelman Moments before to turn possession to Donley, but manager Pep Guardiola had a simple message for her new acquisition afterwards: “Welcome to the Premier League and the judges.”

Said Guardiola, “Maybe he knew about the judges because I understand it’s not easy. It’s not easy to do anything when playing against teams like in League One. You have to live it. My first away game was against Stoke, A long time ago.

It’s a lesson Gonzalez, Reis and the rest must learn quickly. Real Madrid will hardly shake off fear when they see this in front of Tuesday’s Champions League Knockout Playoff Round First Ben at Etihad Stadium.

The city may have had the job done – through a equalization from Abdukodir Khusanov which he knew nothing about, with a Rico Lewis lap deflection in the back and a well -worked winner from another replacement, Kevin de Bruyne – But there was little to recommend them beyond their stamina, as Orient made them look ordinary for long periods.

City went into the market by knowing that they need an immediate rejection from their newcomers. It is a difficult question about any player in the middle of a season, but with an outlay of £ 180 million. Comes the immediate expectation.

Instead, Guardiola was left to curate playing time for its new players in a different way. In short, Reis was withdrawn during the break because the city was down 1-0.

“The plan was Ruben (Dias to play) for 45 minutes after his injury, and I wouldn’t bring two new players who played at the same time with that result,” Guardiola explained. “It was too much risk. I want one along with experience, either Ruben or John (stone).”

Khusanov has stabilized a little after an unhappy debut against Chelsea last month, but the 20-year-old is still undeniably raw. After he admitted a free kick with a rash challenge when the scoring was 1-1, Guardiola kicked the side of Dugout in frustration.

Omar MarmoushCity’s Fourth January Subject, was one of City’s brighter players constantly exploring after an opening while Savinho and Jack Grealish transported a threat wide.

But Orient, inspired by their two loanees from Spurs in Donley and goalkeeper Josh KeeleyFighting, hiding and shooking their way to compete with the city until the Bruyne’s intervention 11 minutes from time.

There was still one last scare – Dan Happe Met a free kick of 90. Minute at the back post, but could only control his left-footed shot from the target-but city held.

In the usual FA Cup style, Guardiola had been the pantomime villain all afternoon. The team bus arrived at song from “City Get Bathing everywhere they go”, while Guardiola was targeted by Gleeful Orient fans as their team threatened an almighty disturbance.

“When they say” You should be fired in the morning “…,” he said. “But it’s a routine in all stadiums right now, still with this result, I think my chairman won’t sack me tomorrow.

“It was really good. I don’t know if in the league one, in every single game the mood is like this, but it’s really good. You’re going to enjoy football, the closet room is so tight. The players can talk even more than in a Usually changing rooms.

“We weren’t heated at 16, 17, 18 years old and went to Wembley. We were born in these dressing rooms. Especially when you play in the lower departments, I like the way the team behaves because how many surprises have There has been in the FA Cup, in the long history of this competition?

City did not add to the list on Saturday, but they also did not silence concerns that they are over their decline.

“Now, of course, our position is a bit unstable emotionally; we have admitted a lot of injuries, which is why going through with this result makes me so proud and so happy,” Guardiola said.

Improvement is needed. Reis was not registered for the Champions League -Knockouts, but Marmoush, Khusanov and Gonzalez were. Orient here gave a reminder here how necessary it will be to hit the ground running against Real Madrid and not leaving a mountain to climb Bernabeu on February 19th.