Clouds are gathering above the Etihad Stadium. For the first time since 2006, Manchester City has had four consecutive defeats, an unprecedented event for the club and, even more surprisingly, for Pep Guardiola.
The last blow came on November 9, during a 2-1 defeat against Brighton in the Premier League. This poor performance comes on top of the setbacks suffered against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup (2-1), Bournemouth in the league (2-1) and a scathing 4-1 inflicted by Sporting in the Champions League. This dark series underlines a rarely observed fact: in 175 Champions League matches managed by Guardiola, never has a team under his command conceded four goals at home.
Haaland down, City without a master to play
A symbol of this slump is the ineffectiveness of Erling Haaland. If the Norwegian striker continues to sow terror into opposing defenses, this season he has ten clear missed chances, a figure only surpassed by Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (11).
But the most glaring absence remains that of Rodri, the Spanish metronome recently crowned with the Golden Ball. Without him, the statistics are unforgiving: City have lost 27% of matches played when he is not on the pitch, compared to only 11% when he is on the pitch.
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A decisive turning point ahead?
City’s next meetings are eagerly awaited. Saturday October 23, the club welcomes Tottenham (10th) to the Etihad with the obligation to return to victory. Three days later, Feyenoord in the Champions League awaits them, the opportunity to heal the wounds left by the heavy defeat against Sporting.
Swiss
