Manchester City’s Form Dips, but Roy Keane Backs Pep Guardiola for More Credit
Former Manchester United legend Roy Keane has weighed in on Manchester City’s recent struggles, insisting that manager Pep Guardiola deserves greater recognition for the remarkable consistency his team has shown over the years.
City face a pivotal Premier League clash against arch-rivals Liverpool this Sunday, a match that offers the reigning champions a chance to reverse a troubling six-game winless streak. In recent weeks, City have suffered five losses and managed just one draw, a stark departure from their dominance in recent seasons, which saw them clinch six of the last seven league titles.
Keane, who made over 470 appearances for United, acknowledged the challenges Guardiola is facing but was quick to highlight the manager’s unparalleled achievements. “You’ve got one of the greatest managers ever, and he’s trying to find ways for his team to get back to winning ways,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“You have to lose sometimes, but they’ll be hurting so much. You have a manager there who has won everything in the game, and he’s struggling to find a formula to get back to winning ways. He’ll be hurting badly.”
Keane added that Guardiola’s demeanor suggests the toll of the current situation. “Usually, when you watch Pep, he always looks fresh and well. Now, he looks a little bit fatigued. People talk about pressure at the bottom, but there is pressure at the top, and he’s feeling it.”
Keane reserved special praise for City’s resilience under Guardiola, stating, “The biggest compliment I can give City and Pep is I thought this crisis would have happened a year or two ago. So the fact it took so long for this to happen, he deserves even more credit because of the standards they’ve set over the last few years.”
After Liverpool, City’s fixtures remain challenging, with games against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Juventus, Manchester United, and Aston Villa before Christmas. A win at Anfield would narrow the gap to five points behind Liverpool, but a loss could leave City trailing by 11, heading into a critical winter period.
