Manchester City’s recent struggles continued on Wednesday as Juventus defeated them, leaving their Champions League knockout hopes hanging by a thread. This loss is part of a concerning trend that has seen the team suffer a dramatic downturn in form. Guardiola’s side has recorded just one win in their last ten matches, with seven losses during this dismal stretch.
Despite the poor results, writing them off entirely at this stage of the season would be premature. However, Pep Guardiola is well aware that he must find a way to turn things around sooner rather than later if they are to salvage their campaign.
How Much Pressure is Guardiola Under to React?
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand expressed his surprise at Manchester City’s current form, particularly given their success in recent years. He remarked, “I think we are still going to be surprised given what they have done in recent years. They have been a formidable team, they won four Premier Leagues on the bounce, they have a history of being very successful. But we just have not seen a Pep Guardiola side in general ever be this bad. He has to find a way of galvanising this team and reinstalling some form and confidence. They are under real pressure now.”
What Do the Alarming Statistics Say About the City's Current Form?
The statistics surrounding Manchester City’s recent performances are a serious cause for concern. Since the start of November, they have conceded more goals (20) across all competitions than any other team from Europe’s top five leagues. This alarming defensive vulnerability has been particularly evident away from home.
City have conceded two or more goals in their last seven away games across all competitions, matching the total from their previous 46 games combined. In the Champions League, they conceded nine goals in their previous three matches, a stark contrast to the clean sheets they kept in their first three games this season. This marks the first time in Guardiola’s managerial career that he has seen his team concede more than twice in three consecutive Champions League fixtures across all clubs.
Additionally, the team is now on an eight-game streak without a clean sheet away from home in all competitions, equaling the longest run of Guardiola’s career (also eight games in October 2016).
Can Guardiola's Optimism Be Enough Amid the Struggles?
Despite the harrowing defeat against Juventus, Guardiola remained upbeat about his team’s efforts, reflecting on the positives from the performance. “We played good, really, really good. We conceded a few, and some transitions happened, but I am so proud of these players. They give everything and they tried, and now we live in this period and hopefully, we can change results,” Guardiola said after the match.
However, former Manchester City defender Nedum Onouha offered a more critical analysis. “They found it very hard to break [Juventus] down and Erling Haaland himself was frustrated. To make it even worse, there were times when City were very open. They seemed so stretched.”
Is Champions League Progression Now in Jeopardy for City?
Going into Wednesday’s match, City knew they had to win all three remaining fixtures in the group stage to secure a top-eight finish and automatic progression to the Champions League knockouts. However, the defeat to Juventus has left them five points off the top eight, with six points still up for grabs.
Currently sitting in 22nd place, City faces the prospect of advancing through the playoffs. The teams finishing in positions 9th to 24th will compete in two-legged ties in February for a spot in the last 16. With just one point separating City from 25th-place Paris Saint-Germain, their upcoming clash with PSG on January 22 will likely prove pivotal in their hopes of progressing. A poor result against PSG could leave them under significant pressure ahead of a potentially winnable home match against Club Brugge.
“We have two games, we need one point maybe,” Guardiola added. “You go to Turin, Paris, our three games away were tough. You have to accept it. We will turn around, not forget that period, appreciate more what we have done in the past and what we are going to do in the future.”
Is It Time for a Major Rebuild at Manchester City?
One key factor behind Manchester City’s past successes has been their consistency under Guardiola. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has rarely made significant changes to his side between seasons, instead focusing on key areas for improvement and strengthening the squad appropriately.
However, while this consistency has been a hallmark of their dominance, it could also contribute to their current struggles. Some have suggested that the players who have played a central role in City’s success may now be experiencing “tiredness.”
In the summer, Manchester City made two key signings: winger Savinho from Troyes and the return of midfielder Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona. Yet, despite these additions, the team’s balance and energy are missing, and some are questioning whether the squad needs a significant overhaul.
Can Guardiola's Dominance Be Rebuilt in Time?
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin acknowledged the need for a significant rebuild at Manchester City. “It is worth considering just how momentous a period this will turn out to be in years to come,” Nevin said. “Pep Guardiola’s dominance is done – well, it is for the time being. Manchester City will not melt away to obscurity any time soon, but the run of clearly being the best of the best in Britain is over. There is a rebuild of monumental proportions needed – and they know it. How quickly can this be done? Inside two years is the answer, as Chelsea have shown with their recent merciless clear-out and restructuring plan.”
How Much of an Impact Has Rodri's Absence Had on City?
City has been plagued by injuries this season, with Oscar Bobb, John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji all sidelined. However, the most significant loss has been Rodri, whose absence has left a glaring hole in City’s midfield. Against Juventus, City struggled to handle transitions and maintain control in midfield, something they’ve previously excelled at with Rodri at the helm.
“Rodri, people are talking about, but there is a bigger picture than that,” one analyst said in the build-up to the Juventus fixture. “They have lacked the control in the midfield area. They have not been able to react to the transition as well at the moment. They don’t seem to have the security within the team. They have been easy to play through, that isn’t about Rodri, that is about the functionality of the team.”
Is There a Quick Fix for Manchester City's Current Struggles?
Another former Manchester City defender offered a balanced perspective on City’s current struggles, noting that the issues are not simply down to one player’s absence. “It is not down to one individual, but with Rodri, I think it is the only position where the replacement isn’t as impactful,” the analyst explained. “There is never going to be one thing that is the reason for great results or negative results. There has to be a combination of everything coming together and it is building blocks slowly.”
Can Manchester City Bounce Back From This Crisis?
History suggests that despite the difficulties, Manchester City’s struggles will not last forever. Under Guardiola, City has demonstrated an ability to bounce back from challenging runs of form. In December 2018, for instance, City lost three Premier League games and found themselves 10 points off the top. Yet, they went on to win 18 of their next 19 matches to overturn the deficit and clinch the title.
“Of course I question myself, in the good moments, in the bad moments,” Guardiola reflected. “I was stable in the good moments, I was stable in the bad moments. I try to find the way, find the win.”
While this season’s struggles may represent a new challenge for Guardiola, his track record suggests that Manchester City’s turnaround could come sooner than expected if they find the right solutions to their current issues.
