Michael Owen and Ian Wright criticised ‘frustrating’ Adama Traore after Manchester City came from behind to beat Fulham on Saturday.
Andreas Pereira put Fulham ahead following a brilliant backheeled assist from Raul Jimenez.
City equalised and then took the lead through two goals from Mateo Kovacic before Jeremy Doku’s excellent strike put the Premier League champions even further ahead.
Fulham pulled a goal back with two minutes remaining through Rodrigo Muniz but Marco Silva’s side were unable to prevent their second defeat in the Premier League this season.
Traore, meanwhile, spurned three excellent one-on-one opportunities to score for Fulham and Owen believes the winger’s inability to finish chances has hindered his career.
‘Listen, with all due respect, if he could finish he’d still be at Barcelona, or at Real Madrid or Manchester City because he’s got attributes that you just can’t give. I mean the pace of him… against Kyle Walker, incredible,’ Owen told Premier League Productions.
‘As I say, if he had an end product he wouldn’t be playing for Fulham, with all due respect.
‘Fulham are a brave team, the way they play, I didn’t think they’d be overawed by going to Manchester City.
‘Of course, the quality eventually told but I always thought they would give them a game and I expected them to get chances. If they’d have taken even one of those Traore chances it would’ve been a different story.’
Former Arsenal striker Wright said: ‘You know something, it’s really frustrating, but we’ve known him for many, many years now, and what he’s capable of doing.
‘It’s a simple finish, just lift it over the legs, just a dink touch.
‘All you’ve got to do is show a bit of composure. The ball’s under his feet, he tries to finish with his left foot but there’s no space for the place where he’s actually trying to place that ball, that’s got to be one where you whip it around the keeper.
‘He’s a frustrating player to watch.’
Speaking after City’s win, Pep Guardiola highlighted the problem Traore caused City throughout the game.
‘The game was well played, their chances that were created especially with Adama, because he’s unstoppable that guy,’ Guardiola said.
No player can control when he has the ball and makes the first one or two touches and starts to run, they are going to defend on the six-yard box, it’s impossible to control him.
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