Manchester City faced intense criticism from their home fans after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Everton on Boxing Day. The team, managed by Pep Guardiola, was booed off the pitch as frustration mounted among the Etihad faithful.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the first half, giving City hope for a much-needed victory. However, Iliman Ndiaye equalized for Everton just before halftime, further fueling discontent among supporters. The situation worsened when Erling Haaland missed a critical penalty in the second half, saved by Jordan Pickford. The Norwegian striker has struggled recently, scoring only once in his last seven matches and failing to find the net in his previous four.
Fans voiced their frustrations loudly at the final whistle, with one remarking on social media about the stark contrast to previous seasons. Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen noted the irony of the situation, highlighting the team’s historical success and the current disappointment.
City’s performance has been troubling, with only one victory in their last 13 matches across all competitions. Their last win was a 3-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest on December 4. Following the draw with Everton, City climbed to sixth in the Premier League but could find themselves five points off the top four, depending on other results.
Guardiola acknowledged the gravity of the situation, admitting the team is at risk of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 15 years. “The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past years has been Manchester City. Now we are at risk, of course we are. Definitely,” he stated.