We're a very strange hybrid, right now: a combination of technical excellence and personality holed under the bow by incompetence and brainlessness. For every James pass, Doucoure cross or Mina intervention, there's an Iwobi tumbleweed moment and Pickford brainfart. I'll be honest: I don't think we can afford that this season and I very much doubt we'll get away with it today.
Pickford is in a trough of his own making, and I think it could be spiral now. Everyone has lost confidence in him. I have no faith in someone who says things like "I am mentally strong", let alone his performances.
Ancelotti might have to apply some classic Italian tactical nous to see this one through, but I fear we are fatally undermined.