CUT THE CHAT Let the results do the talking from now on

LEWIS SAYS ACTIONS MUST NOW SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

- JOE BRAY

THE time for talking in the City dressing room is over, says Rico Lewis, as their dire run continued at Aston Villa.

Erling Haaland offered a similar no-nonsense verdict as he spoke up at Villa Park to say he bears personal responsibility for the bad run because he hasn’t scored enough goals in the last 12 games (he has four).

Pep Guardiola struck a sombre figure during the game and while he was more positive afterwards in his press conference, the situation remains a full-blown crisis with no apparent sign of things improving.

We’ve heard from each of City’s five fit captains in the leadership group during this run and the message has largely been the same just with the odd variation. Things need to improve, it’s not good enough, players need to look at themselves, this squad is too talented be playing as bad as they are and the issues are self-inflicted... Etc, etc.

At Aston Villa we heard from two new voices with Lewis joining Haaland in media duties post-match. As grumbles grow online over which particular captains are stepping up to talk (and who isn’t), it was actually refreshing to hear from two of the younger members of the squad who have carried the team through their struggles.