Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola experienced an unknown feeling at the weekend. The Citizens suffered a 2-1 defeat at Brighton Hove Albion.
The defeat was City’s fourth straight loss in all competitions, which has never happened to the Basque as a head coach.
Is this a crisis for the all-conquering City?
Manchester City have become so accustomed to winning most games and trophies in recent years that the Citizens losing four games in a row is unbelievable. It has been declared as a crisis.
However, there seems to be a different vibe about Manchester City this season. In previous seasons, at times, they looked unstoppable and formidable, even if they had a rare poor result.
The men from Manchester would respond to losing by producing better results and performances. In fact, in recent seasons, they have produced incredible runs of form to clinch the Premier League title, often late in the campaign.
This season, though, the Citizens have looked fragile and vulnerable, which is something we certainly don’t associate with Pep Guardiola’s team. The Citizens have had times this season where they lost control of games, something again that hasn’t happened recently.
Injuries are having a significant effect on Pep Guardiola’s team
Some may not offer Manchester City sympathy because of the amount of money that they have spent in recent years. However, no matter how big a squad a team has, injuries to key players will always affect even the best teams.
Manchester City are suffering from some major injury issues. For instance, at one stage of the season, the Citizens have been without centre-backs Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji.
The injuries led to youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey making his first-team debut in the heart of the defence. Although he is talented and highly rated, it’s a shame that he has had to start his City career in slightly trying circumstances.
However, arguably the most influential injury of all was to Spanish defensive midfield Rodri. The recent Ballon d’Or winner picked up an ACL injury in a 2-2 against Arsenal in September.
City head coach Pep Guardiola stated soon after the injury that the 28-year-old will miss the rest of the season. The midfielder has recently said that he is aiming to return before the end of the season.
The fact that Rodri won the Ballon d’Or just illustrated the midfielder’s quality and influence on City’s performances. When City are without the midfield maestro, they are not the same team, as he is such a key player.
While Erling Haaland scores the goals in attack, it is Rodri who holds the defensive side of the game together. It’s the Spaniard who protects the defence and gives the Citizens control in the centre of the park.
When Rodri is in the team, City seems to be more formidable, as despite being just one player, he seems to cover so much ground.
His replacement in the team at times has been former Chelsea and Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic. He is a decent player, but he has different strengths and is nowhere near Rodri’s quality.
Rodri missing the rest of the season could be the unlucky blow that may well cost City silverware at the end of the campaign.
History has taught us not to write off City
In recent seasons, City have been in underwhelming form in the Premier League for short periods. However, in five of the last six seasons, they have had enough quality to regain form and retain their top-flight crown.
However, this season almost echoes Guardiola’s final campaign in Barcelona. His team had dominated for years, but they then came unstuck, and arch-rivals Real Madrid nipped in to claim the title under Jose Mourinho.
Just like the end of Guardiola’s Barcelona career, one of the main reasons that his team’s run of title wins may end is the excellent form of long-term title rivals Liverpool. Arne Slot’s team has won nine of their first 11 top-flight games, suffering just one defeat and drawing once in the process.
Their good form has them at the top of the table, five points clear of second-place City. Whether the Citizens can recover could depend on both team’s form for the rest of the season.
If Liverpool maintains their current blistering start to the campaign, they could well stride away from the champions. City have to dig deep and come up with the sort of form they have shown season after season to win five of the last six Premier League titles.
We have learnt in recent seasons that you can’t write Manchester City off. Only time will tell if City still has the quality and the determination to come back and once again knock Liverpool off top of the table.