After five straight losses, the champions are having trouble in seven crucial areas, and it is evident on the field.
During the US preseason tour, PEP GUARDIOLA issued a warning that the season would get off to a difficult start.
He was correct as always, albeit it’s unlikely that he had anticipated such a terrible run of five straight losses.
5Pep Guardiola has been given a massive headache with his stuttering Manchester City sideCredit: PA
5Profligate finishing and a leaky defence have cost them dearlyCredit: Getty
5The absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has also hit them hardCredit: EPAGuardiola acknowledges that some problems at the beginning of the season have gotten worse over time, which led to the worst outcome of his tenure—a 4-0 home loss to Spurs—and sparked rumors of a crisis at the Etihad.Here, Sunsport delves deeply into the specific issues facing the four-time champions and what they need to do to turn things around.RODRIThe Spaniard must have been taken aback by what he saw, even though he was back at the Etihad on Saturday to display his Ballon d’Or.The 28-year-old, who was just voted the world’s best player, is the key to City’s recent success and would be missed by any team.
There was a reason why Guardiola picked him every week – just ask Kalvin Phillips – and without him they are not the same.
Before he did his cruciate against Arsenal in September, City turned in an electric 20 minutes – and since then they haven’t come anywhere close.
They need to find a way to live without him as he won’t be back this season.
Rodri’s 45 minutes against Brentford in one of his few games before injury this season helped City control the game
They have been unable to repeat the trick with the likes of Rico Lewis in midfield
OTHER INJURIES
They have missed more than just Rodri. Oscar Bobb, who was predicted to do well and was the standout of City’s preseason, fractured his leg during training.
Due to fitness issues, the 33-year-old Belgian has only made five appearances this season, raising suspicions that this could be the start of the end for him.
AGEING ALONG SIDE
In his press conference on Friday, Guardiola acknowledged that he had 12 players in his roster who are older than thirty, but he insisted that it isn’t necessarily an issue.
Given what they have accomplished in recent years, a number of them are certain of their position in city legend, but has the club let their emotions run amok?
This season, they have appeared slender and lacking in enthusiasm, and as is common with older players, injuries are beginning to appear.
Some significant choices will need to be made if Pep plans to stay for another two and a half years.
He hasn’t avoided them previously, and because a makeover is required, he must do it once more.
HUNGER
City released a documentary this week called “Together: Four in a Row” which showed some epic dressing room rants by Guardiola.
In one he tells his players “There is a reason why nobody did four Premier Leagues in a row – it’s because it’s so difficult”.
As usual, it worked as his players became the first to do it.
But what now? Can this same group keep finding it within themselves to do it yet again?
The signs so far are that the motivation and hunger may have dropped just a notch or two and in the Prem you can’t afford to do that.
FATIGUE
After playing brilliantly for his club the previous season and leading England to the Euro 2024 final, Phil Foden acknowledged that he felt exhausted.
And since City had more players on international duty this summer than any other team, he most likely wasn’t alone.
Pep must have known in his heart that this was going to happen because the scratch squad traveled to America for preseason.
Although his players have consistently gone above and above for him, it appears that they are at a standstill at the moment.
TRANSFERS
Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Savinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Jeremy Doku, and Matheus Nunes.
How many of the players City has acquired since winning the triple have turned out to be successful?
Despite a few slip-ups on Saturday, Gvardiol was undoubtedly helpful, and Kovacic was also a valuable addition.
While Gundogan, 34, appears to be a shadow of the player he was prior to his year at Barcelona, the others are still up in the air.
In the meanwhile, they let the departure of Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Cole Palmer, and Julian Alvarez.
Having all of them around would have been helpful during these trying weeks.
When everyone is available, Guardiola continues to maintain that his team is outstanding. However, they aren’t, and fissures are beginning to appear.
PURPOSE
Erling Haaland, who has already scored 15 this season, will always score.
However, he’s also losing a lot of opportunities, and he could have easily taken the match ball home on Saturday regardless of the score.
To make matters worse, not many people are contributing.In the Prem, Gvardiol and Kovacic have three apiece and John Stones has two.
Then to compound it, they are conceding too easily at the other end.
Erling Haaland proved to be wasteful against Tottenham