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Ipswich Town 0 v 6 Manchester City
FA Premier League
Sunday, 19th January 2025 Kick-off 16:30
McKenna: A Painful Game For Us, City Were Too Strong in All Aspects
Sunday, 19th Jan 2025 20:28

Boss Kieran McKenna admitted the Blues’ 6-0 defeat at home to Premier League champions Manchester City was a painful game with the visitors, who he believes still may be the best team in the world, too strong for his side in all aspects.

Town fell to their joint-heaviest ever home defeat to City, but having been well in the game up until the visitors went in front in the 27th minute through Phil Foden, the first of two, and then added a second via Mateo Kovacic three minutes later.


Foden’s second made it 3-0 at the break and Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, fresh form signing his new 10-year contract, and James McAtee completed the rout in the second half.

“It was a painful game for us, no doubt about that,” McKenna said. “There’s no doubt the opponent was too strong for us today in all aspects and we weren’t able to find the solutions to the quality they had and the problems that they gave us.

“I think it was a really good game for 27 minutes, from our point of view, a really even game. We competed really well, certainly could have had the first goal, there were chances both ways but we could have had the first goal, was a really similar flow to our best games and best performances here against some of the big sides.

“But after the first goal, their confidence and quality went to a level that we weren’t able to cope with and they completely pulled away and took the game away from us.

“We still had some moments and opportunities but we weren’t able to punish them and any mistakes that we made, they ruthlessly punished them and showed their quality.

“The last 20, 25 minutes then was just a time where the team had to stick together, show character and try and stem the attacks that Man City were having, and I think the group did a pretty good job of that. But yes, a really, really difficult day, a difficult game and it is what it is.”

Quizzed on what lessons can be learnt from the afternoon, McKenna said: “I think playing against that level is new to us, there’s no doubt about that. We know how quickly we’ve climbed the ladder. There were a couple of occasions last year where we were outclassed by teams but we still found a way to have an incredible, incredible season.

“But certainly today, and on one or two other occasions this season, we haven’t been able to hit the level and if you can’t hit the level and the performance and the opposition have a very good day, then the game can completely get away from you.

“In terms of what we’ll take form today, I think there are a lot of things we need to reflect on. We need to analyse it, we need to have some good, honest conversations.

“The start of the game, as I say, had lots of positives. The first two goals were on shape and everyone’s behind the ball and we didn’t defend well enough against the moments. We were structurally fine but we didn’t defend the incidents well enough.


“We had some organisational issues either side of half-time after that, which we didn’t manage well enough but, having said that, I think we gave them problems and organisational issues with the ball as well.

“But we didn’t have the execution to go and punish them today and they punished every mistake we made and any issues that we had.

“I think we needed to manage that phase better and it’s not the first time this season. It is difficult, but we need to do it better, there’s no doubt about that. We needed to manage the phase better when the game got away from us.

“And then there’s the last phase of the game where some individuals really stood up, showed some real leadership in the pitch, the group stuck together and the crowd were fantastic, they showed an amazing togetherness with the group of players on the pitch.

“The group of players on the pitch stuck together and we need to take positives from that because those are some of the qualities that have helped us do what we’ve done up until this point and those are the qualities that we need to build on for the future of the team, the future of the club, and that was certainly shown at the end of the game today.”

McKenna felt the game showcased the gap between the teams at the top of the Premier League and those promoted from the Championship, although he believes City are capable of doing the same as they did to Town to other top sides.

“I think so,” he reflected. “But I think Man City are better than that on their day, to be honest. I think Man City can do some of what they did today to some of the better teams in the Premier League and to some top class European sides.

“The level of their execution, it wasn’t like our goal was absolutely peppered or we didn’t get out of our box, the level of their execution was just that high and they’ve done that to better teams than us over the last few years, and once they scored the first goal today, they really hit a top, top, top gear.

“So I don’t think today was necessarily just about the gap from the Championship or the EFL to the Premier League, I think it was bigger than that. It was the gap from that to, in that level of form, maybe still the best team in the world. And that gap was pretty big today.”

Town played Brighton on Thursday, while City’s previous match was the 2-2 draw at Brentford on Tuesday, giving the Blues a tight turnaround and the visitors two additional days in which to prepare.

“I think it was an issue and it has been a challenge,” McKenna said. “I think it’s quite a few games in a row where we’ve given up lead time [to the opposition] going into the game. Man City’s tough anyway but Thursday night to Sunday afternoon is our quickest turnaround of the season. To have that before you have Man City and I think we gave up days in all the games before that as well.

“We’ve had injuries and players probably coming back in quicker than we would have wanted. If I’m honest, Omari [Hutchinson]’s probably had to come back in the team quicker than would have been ideal in terms of his sharpness, and there are other instances like that.

“I think it’s a tricky spell for us from a physical point of view. We’re coming out the back of a really busy winter spell, the group’s been down in some positions. We’re trying to work back to full fitness, individuals are trying to work back towards full fitness.

“We’ve got new players coming into the group, who don’t have fitness and match fitness to the level they would want to be at yet.

“Trying to integrate all of that and get back to our best condition through an incredibly difficult run of games that we’ve had has been really, really tough.

“I think in general we’ve done a pretty good job of it, but today we weren’t able to do well enough and I think that was part of the issue.

“Again, we have one day fewer than Liverpool [who Town face at Anfield on Saturday] but it’s a better run-in, so we’ll get a few days’ training next week, which will be beneficial. A few days with the players who are coming back from injury and with the new players.

“After Liverpool, we have a week to Southampton and I think from that physical point of view, I still think we’ve got a challenging couple of weeks ahead, but I think if we keep doing the right things, if we stick together as a group, if we work well, I think in a few weeks’ time we can be in a much stronger position to attack the end of the season.”

McKenna says he didn’t say a lot to his players in the dressing room after the game with the post-mortem to come on Monday.

“We didn’t speak too much,” he said. “The time to speak is going to be when we get back to the training ground on Monday. I always give them my thoughts on the game from an honest perspective, which is pretty much what I’ve shared with you already. I give them my honest perspective on the game.

“A few players have the opportunity to speak if there’s anything they want to discuss in the group, and we’ll take it to the training ground and we’ll own it. We’ll own the things that we could have done better.

“We’ll analyse the game, we’ll reflect on the areas we need to improve, we’ll reflect on the positives from the game as well because for 27 minutes, if the game stopped then, everyone would have said, ‘What a really good performance, how incredible Ipswich have done to compete with Man City’.

“But the game doesn’t stop after a good start and we’ll certainly learn from the bits that we didn’t do well enough.

“But we’ll also take some of the positives from the start and also the finish to the game from a mental point of view, and we’ll move forward.

“We know we’ve got Liverpool away next week, we know it’s another massive, massive challenge, so we’re going to need to show an incredibly amount of character next week at the training ground and going to Anfield, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”


TWTD



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ArnieM added 20:42 - Jan 19
We move on.

COYFBs
26

Tractorboy58 added 20:44 - Jan 19
Fair asessment
19

BurleysGloryDays added 20:45 - Jan 19
Dust down and move on, terrific opening 25 mins - and lots to look forward to with Axel back, Jaden in - and Hirsty too.

Game on, and so proud of the fans staying back to support the team and KMK! We all play our part! COYB!
44

Writtleblue added 20:46 - Jan 19
Let's move on , difficult day today , City are a class above.
24

Saxonblue74 added 20:50 - Jan 19
Honest, accurate and realistic.
21

Mark added 21:09 - Jan 19
I loved the support from the fans after the final whistle, remembering that the manager and many of the players took us from mid-table League One to being able to play possibly the best team in the world. We move on and will get better over the coming seasons if we stay together.
40

ITFCSG added 21:10 - Jan 19
//The last 20, 25 minutes then was just a time where the team had to stick together, show character and try and stem the attacks that Man City were having, and I think the group did a pretty good job of that//

Really?

vs. Man City reserves Mubama, O'Reilly and Lewis with all their main goal threats taken off. If City went all out it would have been double figures

Better start thinking how to limit the damage at Anfield, if not our goal difference will be the same as Southampton come next weekend
-27

blueboy1981 added 21:27 - Jan 19
Talking about being Honest - we are nowhere near Premiership Standard based on recent performances. In fact unfair competition, and it could become extremely embarrassing for all, if improvement isn’t forthcoming.
We’ve had a Pre-Season and now more than a half playing season to adjust to whatever, and we haven’t done that.
At the moment we deserve no better than the Championship at best, only one player showed Prem’ level today - Delap, and he will certainly not be with us next season.
We must be one of, if not the worst, in terms of Fans for making excuses for failure, and keep harping back to ‘where we were 4 years ago’ - it’s achievement of course , but now totally irrelevant to the Owners.
It’s the future that matters to them, and Relegation will NOT have been in their plans - irrespective of what Ashton or Mck says.
Relegation could well deliver a very serious blow to our Club, but all we can do it seems, is hope not.
Lets forget where we eere 4 years ago - it was never our current Owners intention of stating there.
Evans has left the room - long since !!
-32

Suffolkboy added 21:40 - Jan 19
Some unbalanced emotive balderdash inevitable — but hope springs eternal ! Let’s treasure every effort and appreciate the progress : the curve wasn’t ever going to be ever upwards !
COYB
8

Leejames99 added 21:49 - Jan 19
Blueboy1981 thanks for the giggle, and your summary that only Delap is Prem worthy, maybe Championship, funny that nearly all our new signings were in Championship team of season, Mckenna manager of year, and our loans play for Many City and Lazio.
The new owners never in a million years thought we would go league 1 to Prem in 2 seasons. Ridiculous to suggest that. Delap is a Town player under contract, if he did go it would be to earm Chelsea bench or similar why would he want that and if he does we double our investment so no drama!
15

Rozeeboy74 added 21:49 - Jan 19
blueboy1981 - Promotion in 2 season was not in the plan either.
12

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 21:50 - Jan 19
An objective appraisal by Kieran, as always. I actually thought we played quite well today, and there was certainly no lack of effort from our team. The only problem was City played way better because of the quality of players they have at their disposal, and at the end of the day, there's not much you can do about that. I'm in the "pro" camp as regards supporting our players at the end, and proud that the crowd largely stayed with them and didn't leave the stadium half empty as Leicester, for example, did the other day. COYB!
20

churchmans81 added 21:58 - Jan 19
blueboy1981 … “At the moment we deserve no better than the Championship at best”. At best? What on Earth are you on about!?
11

OliveR16 added 23:22 - Jan 19
Rangers 5-0 Fraserburgh.
Ipswich 0-6 Man City.
Large defeats are sometimes acceptable.
And sometimes unacceptable.
1

algarvefan added 23:36 - Jan 19
Spot on honesty from KMK as usual, no histrionics just a fair assessment, I can't believe some of you call yourself supporters, you are just attention seekers typing controversial clap trap!!! The real supporters actually saw the game and stayed to support the lads at the end. It may well be we suffer a similar defeat next weekend, the one thing I know is that Keiran and the lads will work hard with now 7 days to prepare to try and stop that happening.

I'm enjoying the journey this season, playing at the best grounds, against the best team, rather than going to Fleetwood or Forrest Green, some of you on here need to grow up and get a reality check. COYB.
15

naa added 00:04 - Jan 20
Blueboy1981:what a load of rubbish.

Two years ago we were in league one and the two teams currently below us were established Premier league clubs.

Recent performances that you mention include a win against Chelsea and a draw at Fulham that was close to a win.

Even Chris Sutton has admitted how impressed he's been with us this season, how we've competed in the majority of games.

You have such an unrealistic view of us it's laughable.
19

armchaircritic59 added 01:13 - Jan 20
Well, a view from my sofa ( maybe should have been behind it!) A chasening late afternoon. Agree with much of what KM said. I thought first 20 minutes encouraging, the next 5 contained a hint of what was to come.

Not sure how Foden was given the time and space to pull the ball down and shoot with at least 4 blue shirts in close attendance, for the first goal.
de Bryne was allowed to run off Ben Godfrey to create another. Not going to criticise him too badly, first Premiership match for us, and a baptism of fire!

Doku seemed to frighten our defence who often were afraid to even try and put a block on or tackle as he weaved his way into and around the penalty area. Can understand that if you're level or just a goal down, but 3/4 behind, the possibility of giving away a penalty is neither here nor there.

In my opinion we have a pretty serious lack of class in midfield, not having a go at players who are without doubt trying their best, just calling it as I see it.

Plead is an anagram of Delap, and that's what he must be doing in order to get some help up top. I was surprised Broadhead wasn't playing, I'm sure KM had his reasons.

I expect we'll find out over the next few weeks whether we were simply rolled over by a team coming back to it's very high class best, or whether it was a case of us just being poor, or a mixture of both!

I'd like to finish on a high note. I can't award a Man Of The Match, so I'm awarding a Men, Women and Children people of the match. That's all of you who attended, and especially those who stayed to the final whistle, and still gave the players a great reception at the end. You did yourselves and the club proud.

Oh well, a reprieve, only Anfield next weekend!
10

Carberry added 10:14 - Jan 20
Don't worry Kieran, it's a privilege to get beat 6-0 by Man City, all we think about is how far we have come. So tell the lads not to worry because even if we get a shellacking at Anfield on Saturday we will still be content with the warm feelings about the journey we have travelled.
2

Alphawhiskey added 12:09 - Jan 20
Some fans on here need a reality check.
We are ahead of our original plan which was to get to the Prem, but after a couple of Championship seasons to strengthen the squad.
We have came so far so soon, no wonder its a struggle at times.
Trust the process, get behind the team and support the manager.
Even IF we do go down, the club will be in a decent financial position and will easily compete against any team in the Championship.
5

Jugsy added 12:46 - Jan 20
A humbling result, but it only counts as one loss. No one should get carried away after last night. Many more games in which for us to pick up points. The sky commentators acknowledged our rapid ascendancy a number of times and we should remain proud of the fact.

And our fans... just wow. That's all I could hear on the TV was the stadium loud and proud, the way it should be.

blueboy1981 - I would hate to sit next to you at matches if this is your summary of our situation. If you can't be happy that we're in the Premier League, give up because you'll be a lot more satisfied with your weekends.
4

Robert_Garrett added 13:15 - Jan 20
Look on the bright side - it wasnt the seven which it could have been. Learn from the experience and learn harder from the lessons given. The last eight goals that we have shipped have all been from close range and Liam, bless his cotton socks, cannot do everything on his own. Go for Liverpool's jugular with a vericity that they dont desire by unleashing the unexpected, feeding the goats and they will score!
2

Dissboyitfc added 13:41 - Jan 20
No doubt about it they took their foot off the gas.

Jugsy I don’t think for a second blueboy goes to games, why would anyone spend all that amount on something that disappointing!

Serious question did anyone seriously think we wouldn’t be in a relegatIon scrap? Actually I know the answer, not anyone who knows anything about football( the self proclaimed super knowledgeable sorts lol)

We are in this with a chance to survive and the club needs the supporters more than ever, plastic fans not required!
3

dazza added 16:23 - Jan 20
Tough game against a great side - have to say I was very impressed with the first 25 mins - we got the press right and gave them problems, rather than just sitting back. However their goal was coming as we seemed to be a yard off on our marking and had a few warnings. Still not entirely convinced about whether we can continue to have Leif playing so far forward, it leaves us exposed at the back and we have suffered in a quite a few recent games. Difficult balance to achieve given what he gives us in the attacking third. Hopefully the lads can put this (and probably the upcoming Liverpool game) behind them and keep the faith as we can definitely cause teams problems, so no reason we can’t get the points required.
1

Linkboy13 added 18:14 - Jan 20
Personally I'm looking forward to getting back into the championship and seeing football on a level we should be at the Premier league is just a Sky circus and for those on here who are only for the glory ride and probably won't be here next season. We've got a brilliant manager but the rest of the club is not up to Premier standard excluding the ground of course. The player recruitment as Keiran McKenna stated is not up to standard why do we keep buying players that are not up to it physically. Delap and O'shea have been a success but they are physically prepared for Premier league football. Keiran McKenna will probably move on to a club who will give him the backing h deserves and the best of luck to him. Me i will still be there next season like i have been for more than fifty years. Let's hope we've learned lessons from this season and please stop signing players who haven't got a hope of performing in the Premier league.
-2

Dissboyitfc added 19:43 - Jan 20
And how have the club actually let him down and not backed him Linkboy?

Idiot statement, wish i could mark it down twice!!
3


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