Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is in search of a response from his title-holding facet after a slip in requirements he mentioned was anticipated “sooner or later.”
After dropping 4 consecutive matches for the primary time in his adorned managerial profession, Guardiola backed himself to show the state of affairs round by signing a two-year extension to his contract Thursday.
Just 48 hours later, the positivity that deal created was punctured as City have been humbled 4-0 by Tottenham to lose at dwelling for the primary time in 52 matches.
A facet that has created historical past by profitable an unprecedented 4 Premier League titles is now caught within the destructive spiral of a five-game dropping streak.
Guardiola conceded his star-studded squad are “fragile” and low on confidence after a run that additionally included defeats to Bournemouth and Brighton, both facet of a 4-1 Champions League thrashing by Sporting Lisbon.
“Being here for eight years, I knew that sooner or later we would drop,” mentioned the previous Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
“Of course, we by no means count on to lose three Premier League video games in a row. In that point, we at all times anticipated a drop, however we have been extremely constant.
“However, we cannot deny the reality that sometimes in football and sometimes in life it’s here.”
There stays loads of time within the season for Guardiola’s males to arrest their decline.
However, there are severe questions on whether or not they have the personnel or bodily capability to take action after years of going deep into the properly each season.
Before kick-off towards Tottenham, Rodri was welcomed again to the Etihad for the primary time since profitable the Ballon d’Or, awarded to the world’s finest participant over the earlier 12 months.
The Spanish midfielder’s title was lit up in fireworks and an enormous carpet unfold throughout your complete pitch.
Yet, it was as soon as the motion started that City actually confirmed simply how elementary he has been to their success in recent times.
Rodri suffered a season-ending knee damage in September’s 2-2 draw towards Arsenal and City’s title aspirations regarded to have disappeared with him.
Since the beginning of final season, City have misplaced as soon as in 53 matches with Rodri and 9 in 25 with out.
Reliance on Haaland
Kevin De Bruyne made his return from a two-month damage layoff within the closing levels towards Spurs however at 33 is now frequently sidelined by health points.
And the tempo that made captain Kyle Walker one of many Premier League’s best ever right-backs is now starting to fade as Timo Werner tore previous the England defender to arrange Brennan Johnson’s fourth purpose for Tottenham.
The choice to promote Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for 82 million kilos ($103 million) and never exchange the Argentine seems more and more misguided.
There is little backup to Erling Haaland as a purpose risk. The Norwegian has carried the burden with 15 objectives, whereas nobody else has greater than three.
“This is a City side currently in decline,” mentioned former Manchester United captain and pundit Gary Neville.
“It seems madness when you think about what they’ve achieved. They’re easy to play against and teams are encouraged when playing them. The vulnerabilities are clear for everyone to see.”
Worse may very well be to come back as City journey to Premier League leaders Liverpool subsequent weekend.
Defeat at Anfield, the place City haven’t received in entrance of a crowd since 2003, might see the defending champions fall 11 factors behind the Reds.
Guardiola conceded that will be too nice a margin to bridge however his rapid precedence is on stopping the rot towards Feyenoord within the Champions League on Tuesday.
City are well-placed to make the knockout stage however have loads of work to do to ensure a spot within the final 16 by way of a top-eight end within the new format of Europe’s prime membership competitors.
“There are many things that are going to happen that we need to do to break the results as much as possible to get more positive and confident,” he added.
“We are not used to losing so many games in a row. That’s happened. We have to do everything now to change, especially the next one.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com