Manchester City have been one of the most dominant teams in world football over the last decade. They’ve won nearly every trophy available to them, have torn apart every team they’ve come across, and yet they still don’t know how to score a bleedin’ penalty.
Pep Guardiola must be pulling his hair out (y’know, metaphorically) over such a torrid streak. What more can he do to help his players score from 12 yards.
Well, he could stop letting those with poor records step up for a start. Here’s Manchester City’s statistically best penalty takers – ranked.
Congratulations to these 13 players who are all clearly too scared of stepping up to the occasion. Hope you’re happy.
There’s one name omitted for reasons we’ll get into shortly, so let’s get going…
Penalties taken: 0
Penalties scored: 0
Penalties missed: 0
Scoring rate: 0%
You see this flawless record, Pep? If you’re not going to let Ederson play outfield, could you at least let him take a penalty?
Penalties taken: 2
Penalties scored: 1
Penalties missed: 1
Scoring rate: 50%
Are we going to hold a penalty miss from 2012 when Nathan Ake was playing for Netherlands U17s against him?
You bet.
Penalties taken: 32
Penalties scored: 22
Penalties missed: 10
Scoring rate: 68.8%
10 penalties missed? Really? At some point you just need to take the ball out of Riyad Mahrez’s hands (physically and metaphorically).
Penalties taken: 4
Penalties scored: 3
Penalties missed: 1
Scoring rate: 75%
Julian Alvarez has only taken four penalties in his young career, but you’d assume his record will improve down the line (particularly if Manchester City need someone else to step up).
Penalties taken: 11
Penalties scored: 9
Penalties missed: 2
Scoring rate: 81.8%
Every game in which Kevin De Bruyne scored a penalty, his team went on to win. Every game in which he missed, they drew.
Go figure.
Penalties taken: 17
Penalties scored: 15
Penalties missed: 2
Scoring rate: 88.2%
Despite missing high profile spot-kicks against Liverpool and Tottenham, Ilkay Gundogan has a pretty decent record from 12 yards.
Penalties taken: 30
Penalties scored: 28
Penalties missed: 2
Scoring rate: 93.3%
In terms of volume-scoring penalty takers, Erling Haaland is head and shoulders above his Manchester City teammates.
Penalties taken: 1
Penalties scored: 1
Penalties missed: 0
Scoring rate: 100%
Rodri’s only professional penalty was a successful one, scoring from the spot in a 3-0 win over Tottenham in early 2021.
Penalties taken: 6
Penalties scored: 6
Penalties missed: 0
Scoring rate: 100%
Manchester City have a penalty-taking marvel on their hands and he’s stuck at left-back. Free Sergio.
Credit: 90min.com
