Manchester City fans aren’t used to this kind of slump. Losing four games in a row under Pep Guardiola? It’s unprecedented. Still, there’s no need to jump to conclusions just yet.
Two of City’s recent losses have been in less critical competitions one in the Carabao Cup and another in the Champions League.
They’ve still got a good chance to make it to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and given their history, it’s likely they’ll bounce back there. But it’s the two league losses, to Bournemouth and Brighton, that have City five points behind Liverpool and sounding alarms.
It’s not uncommon for City to stumble slightly at this point in the season. Guardiola often prefers his teams to peak in the spring when the biggest games roll around.
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It’s part of his rhythm: a slow build-up in autumn, getting his squad in sync, finding the right formations, and, more recently, dealing with injuries. This year, though, a few cracks seem deeper.
Rodri has been out, and his absence has exposed City’s pressing game, leaving their high line vulnerable. Kevin De Bruyne is just returning, and without him and players like Grealish and Doku, City’s creativity has felt limited.
Defensively, missing key figures like Dias and Stones has been a blow, and even Kyle Walker, now 34, doesn’t look quite as sharp as he once did.
Fatigue seems to be catching up with a squad that’s already achieved so much. And then there’s the looming pressure of the Premier League’s charges against City, which may be weighing on players and staff alike.
But City’s performances haven’t been terrible. Against Brighton, they were dominant in the first half, and they’ve created chances against every opponent. Yet somehow, this year, they look more vulnerable. The late equalizers and comebacks that used to feel inevitable aren’t happening.
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Still, Guardiola has faced down worse. The only time he didn’t find a way back was five years ago when Liverpool took the title. Now, he faces a similar challenge, and we’ll see what happens when City faces Liverpool on Dec1.
The stakes are high, but there’s still time to turn things around. Guardiola has worked his magic before, and if history’s any guide, he’ll find a way.
