It’s not the first time Man City have had a slow start in the Premier League, but the problems Pep Guardiola is facing are not old.
Mention Man City and the phrase “fifth in a row” this season, and many people may think of the five-time Premier League title streak that the team is aiming for. But the more likely scenario is a fifth consecutive defeat.
The public often overreacts to Man City’s failures, when the club has won so much in recent years. Manager Pep Guardiola also said in a press conference after the 1-2 reverse at Brighton on November 9 that defeats are normal in football.
However, this is the first time Guardiola has lost four consecutive games in his 17-year coaching career. It is too early to predict the collapse of a football empire, but the current run of results creates the feeling that the aura around Man City is weakening for the first time in a long time.
The first defeat of the run came in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, when City fielded a second-team squad against Tottenham and Guardiola made it clear that he was not interested in the competition. One of the remaining defeats came against Sporting in the Champions League, where City, still 10th, are unlikely to be eliminated in the first round.
But two of those were defeats in the Premier League, at Bournemouth and Brighton, leaving Guardiola’s side five points behind Liverpool.
It is not unusual for Man City to lose form in the first half of the season, as they usually hit their peak form around February, when the Champions League knockout stages begin. This has become the “new normal” for Man City, and the Spaniard often uses the first half of the season to experiment with new personnel or tactics.
At the same time last year, City endured a disappointing six-game run in the Premier League, with just one unconvincing win at Luton Town. They ended that run in fourth place with 34 points from 17 games, an average of two points per game. They have since gone unbeaten in their remaining 21 games, including 18 wins to seal the title.
This season, Man City are averaging 2.1 points per game, and are second in the table. Their main rivals in the title race this season seem to be Liverpool, and the big match between the two teams on December 1 will test Arne Slot’s army. But the current situation cannot make Man City flinch, compared to last season.
Man City’s performance wasn’t too bad. They were much better than Sporting and Brighton in the first half, but they squandered their chances. On another day, Erling Haaland and co. might have finished better and the situation would have changed. But the problem is that Man City are more vulnerable now than they have ever been.
Guardiola has been with Man City for more than eight seasons, long enough to understand the team’s problems. He likes to push the defense high, but that is a double-edged sword. If the front line is not quick enough to mark, the defense will be easily penetrated by the opponent’s passes to the back. Therefore, the 53-year-old coach instructs his players to control the ball well and not lose it in dangerous positions.
But without a good holding midfielder and interceptor like Rodri, the team’s play is no longer perfect. And not everyone can replace the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
Guardiola does not blame injuries, but sees them as an explanation. Captain Kevin de Bruyne last started a match two months ago. Three key defenders in Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and John Stones are also injured, forcing Guardiola to give 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey a chance. The absence of midfielders Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb also reduces the creativity of the attack.
Man City have also been prone to falling apart after conceding. They conceded two goals in three minutes to Sporting and two in five to Brighton. They seem to lack a leader on the pitch, capable of calming their team after a goal, like Vincent Kompany did in the past, or Rodri and De Bruyne now.
Guardiola is also facing new problems that were not present in previous seasons. Defender Kyle Walker, once considered the best one-on-one player in the world thanks to his speed, has suddenly become sluggish. Perhaps at 34, he is no longer in optimal physical condition. The 53-year-old coach himself admitted that he made a mistake in letting Walker play the full 90 minutes at Brighton.
Guardiola has also spoken more about the hectic schedule this season, which has left his key players exhausted. But it is possible that they have had their fill of trophies after winning a record four consecutive English league titles last season. Maintaining the desire to play in players is always a challenge for a manager at a successful club.
Former defender Jamie Carragher pointed out that the big problem for Man City will be the next transfer window, with 115 allegations still hanging over the team, not to mention Guardiola’s future is still in doubt. “Players will have to think twice before joining Man City,” Carragher commented.
Guardiola may well know he is facing his biggest challenge since arriving in England. “I am hungrier than ever after four defeats in a row,” he said three days ago, sounding determined to turn the team around.
New problems could be the ones to knock Man City down this season, although it is too early to say for sure. But if anyone can help the team overcome this difficulty, it must be Guardiola.