Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna previews trip to Man City

Kieran McKenna smiles when asked if he remembered what his side's opening away game of the season was just two years ago.

"It was Forest Green, wasn't he?" he replied. “We were 2-0 up at half-time, but we hadn’t played all that well. Second half we came under a lot of pressure, they got a goal back, had another disallowed and we just about saw the game out. That was a tough game!

“A lot of those same boys now are going to go and play at the Etihad against Man City.

"We spoke about it before the season, we spoke about before the first game, but it’s not something we’re going to speak about every week. 

“It’s maybe a nice landmark because it’s the first away game, so I’ll allow you it this week! In general though our mindset now is about looking forward."

Sam Morsy battles with Diogo Jota during last weekend's 2-0 home loss to Liverpool. (Image: Ross Halls)

Ipswich earned plenty of plaudits following last weekend's Premier League opener Liverpool at Portman Road. A high energy, in-your-face approach had the visitors on the back foot for much of the first half, but some good breakaway openings weren't captilised on. Mo Salah and co then took advantage of tired legs and minds after the break. It finished a respectable 0-2, but the reality is Arne Slot's men could have scored more during a dominant period.

Now the baptism of fire continues with a trip to the four-times defending champions. 

“They're one of the greatest club sides that has ever been built, there’s no doubt about that," said McKenna.

"They’ve been consistently successful over a long period of time and they’ve done it with a really well-developed and attacking style of play. 

“They’ve evolved year on year as well, both in personnel and in terms of tweaking their system and evolving their structures. They’re always looking to give the opposition different problems and challenges. We’ve seen that already with their early games in pre-season and at the start of the season. 

"There’s no doubt it’s a massive challenge, but it’s one that we have to embrace. It’s one for us to look forward to. If we approach it the right way and embrace the task then, similar to last week, we’ll be much stronger for it. 

Man City's squad will include superstars Erling Haaland (right) and Phil Foden. (Image: PA)

“Having these two games first really does put us in at the deep end, but that’s the best and the fastest way to adapt to the level and really feel the full force of what’s ahead of us. We’ll take the challenge head on."

How do Town approach this game then? 

“In League One, we had the best pressing metrics. In the Championship, we were one of the top teams in that regard. In the Premier League we’re not going to be the highest pressing team in the league, but we want to keep our core identity and essence," said McKenna.

“I think we showed for a good period of the game last week that we’re capable of doing that. We laid our stall out last week as a team who want to be as aggressive as possible, be difficult to play against and who try and stop the opposition early in their attacks. It was great show our front-footedness and lay down a marker for the season.  

“Of course that’s going to be very, very difficult to do against Man City. For any team, never mind one that’s come from our position, the reality is you’re know you're going to have limited possession and that you’re going to spend large chunks of the game in your own half and pretty close to your own goal.

Liam Delap caused Liverpool some problems on his Ipswich Town debut last weekend. (Image: Ross Halls)

"But we also want to go and impose ourselves on the game in the ways that we can. We want to be as aggressive as we can, when we can be, and we want to be as positive on the ball as we can be, when we can be. It’s about being aggressive in the moments we can, but also being compact in the moments that we have to be. We have to protect the key areas and the spaces that their key players operate in. 

“Concentration is one of the biggest factors. The ball is in play at the Etihad longer than at any other stadium. They restart really, really quickly on restarts. It’s a physically demanding place to play. Keeping your concentration when there aren’t too many breaks is high is a great challenge. It’s one we’ve prepared for as well as we can. 

“We’re a group that works on all elements of the game. We want to be really good on our high pressing, but we also want to be good at defending compact in shape. There were times last week we did that really well and there were times in pre-season where we defended really well. 

“So many things this year are going to be about the balance of what we’ve been and what we need to be given the jump in the level. 

“Last season, whenever we conceded a goal the players’ mindset all immediately went towards getting a goal back. Even when we conceded two goals, our mindset would be that the next action is to go and get a goal back as soon as possible. That’s a tremendous character trait to have, that belief and that spirit, but there’s a balance to have.

"In the phase of the game that we went through last week, when Liverpool were very, very dominant and in full flow, that’s a moment where we needed to be compact for longer, stay in our defensive shape, stay at 1-0 and give ourselves a chance to come back later in the game. That game management lesson is a good one to have early."

The Blues boss added: "Our forward players are not going to have four or five shots each, they’re not going to get 50 touches in the final third, but we believe there will be opportunities and situations and moments where our players can go and express themselves. The biggest challenge will be being ready for when those moments might arrive. We know we’re going to have to be super clinical when those moments come. 

“From the goalkeeper through to the centre forward and all five subs, it’s going to take an incredible team effort to build a big resistance against the strength of their side. 

“We know every game is difficult in this league, but every game isn’t Man City away. This experience can make us stronger for the games coming up and the season ahead. That’s how we’re looking at it and that’s what we believe. 

“To face this early on is really good exposure to what the top, top end of the Premier League looks like. 

“We know that the lessons from last weekend, when our organisation in the second half wasn’t quite right, will help us. 

“Of course it would be nice to start with two wins and get as many points on the board as early as possible, but on the other hand we can take some lessons from this start and will hopefully come out the back of it feeling stronger."