Manchester City’s Freefall: Guardiola Faces Worst Spell at the Etihad
Just a month ago, Manchester City looked untouchable, unbeaten in the 2024/25 season despite challenges with injuries and difficult performances. However, fast forward to now, Pep Guardiola finds himself grappling with the toughest spell of his managerial tenure at the club.
From Dominance to Disaster
City’s impeccable form has unraveled in spectacular fashion, with a six-match winless streak across all competitions. In this period, the team has suffered defeats to Tottenham (twice), Bournemouth, Sporting CP, and Brighton, while also dropping points against Feyenoord. The numbers paint a stark picture: 15 goals conceded in five games, compared to just 13 in the previous 15 matches.
November has proven historically grim for Guardiola, marking the first month in his managerial career where he failed to secure a single win in multiple matches. Adding to the misery, Tuesday’s draw saw City become the first team ever to fail to win after leading by three goals after 75 minutes. “We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile, and of course, we need a victory,” Guardiola admitted.
What Went Wrong for City?
Rodri’s Absence: A Gaping Void
The injury to Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner and City’s midfield anchor, has been devastating. Without him, City’s defensive solidity and aura of invincibility have crumbled. The stats tell the story: City has lost 43% of their matches without Rodri since last season, compared to an unbeaten Premier League record when he plays.
This absence has exposed City to counter-attacks, with opponents averaging 1.17 shots on the counter per game—a sharp rise from 0.66 in 2023/24. As Guardiola noted, “Our main player for these transitions…is not there, and we can’t survive.”
Double Trouble: Kovacic Adds to the Midfield Woes
As if Rodri’s absence wasn’t enough, Mateo Kovacic, his stand-in, also succumbed to injury. Without Kovacic, City’s midfield has struggled to cope. The Premier League loss to Tottenham highlighted this issue, as a midfield trio of Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gundogan, and Bernardo Silva failed to provide defensive stability against Spurs’ relentless counterattacks.
Haaland’s Goal Drought
Erling Haaland, who started the season in electrifying form with 10 goals in his first five Premier League matches, has cooled off significantly. In his last seven games, the Norwegian has netted just twice. While his dip in form mirrors City’s struggles, the greater concern lies in his over-reliance, as Haaland accounts for more than half of City’s league goals.
City’s vulnerability was underscored in the loss to Brighton, marking the first time the team lost a match where Haaland had scored.
Defensive Fragility
City’s defensive woes have compounded their problems. Guardiola’s backline has been ravaged by injuries, leaving the team unable to field their strongest defenders consistently. “Our four central defenders are not there…and we can’t survive,” Guardiola lamented.
Key players like Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, and Josko Gvardiol have all missed significant time. As a result, Guardiola has been forced to rely on makeshift solutions and integrate youngsters like Jahmai Simpson-Pusey in less-than-ideal circumstances.
The Road Ahead
For a team used to setting records for dominance, this period of turmoil is unfamiliar territory. Guardiola and Manchester City now face the monumental task of regaining their footing in a season that is threatening to spiral out of control. As Guardiola succinctly put it, “We need a victory.”
Whether City can weather the storm and rediscover their imperious form remains to be seen.
