Fragile City: What's Gone Wrong for Guardiola's Men?

Hussian Almaskati

sports November 24, 2024

TDT | Manama

A Shocking Downfall

For the first time in his illustrious career, Pep Guardiola has endured five consecutive defeats as a manager, the latest a humiliating 4-0 loss to Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium. This unprecedented run has left Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, eight points adrift of Liverpool, who could extend their lead further.

Guardiola, visibly frustrated but reflective, acknowledged the dire situation: “We have to accept the reality and break it.” The crushing loss against Spurs was City’s heaviest home defeat since 2003 and marked the first time in Guardiola's tenure that the team has lost three consecutive league games.

Cracks in the Armor

City’s struggles are multifaceted. Injuries, an aging squad, and the absence of Rodri—the world’s premier defensive midfielder and Ballon d’Or winner—have exposed vulnerabilities. Guardiola’s men have conceded an average of 1.25 goals per game this season compared to 0.79 last term. Opponents, particularly on counterattacks, have exploited City’s loosened defensive structure, with shots faced on fast breaks nearly doubling from previous seasons.

The statistics paint a grim picture:

Shots on target have dropped from 7.3 per game early in the season to 4.8 during the losing streak.
Goals conceded have soared from 0.8 per game to 2.8.
Rodri’s absence has been telling, with City winning just 50% of matches without him, compared to 78% with him since last season.

Former England striker Alan Shearer summed it up: “There is plenty to work on. Defenders are not defending, and the press is disjointed across the park.”

Guardiola’s Perspective

Guardiola has not lost faith in his squad but admitted their mindset has shifted: “We are playing with a little bit of negativity in our thoughts, but this is normal. Football is a sense of mood.” City, built for control and precision, now appear vulnerable to chaos, a far cry from their invincible form of past seasons.

The Road Ahead

The next week could determine City’s fate. A midweek Champions League clash against Feyenoord will be followed by a daunting trip to Anfield, where an in-form Liverpool await. Guardiola admitted that clawing back an 11-point gap, should it come to that, might be insurmountable: “Yes, it’s true... If in the end, we don’t win, it’s because we don’t deserve it.”

With their dominance waning, Manchester City must rediscover their identity—or risk losing their grip on the Premier League crown entirely.