Manchester City is going through a tense and unusual period, marked by a series of four consecutive defeats. This bad spell started in the League Cup against Tottenham, then continued in the Premier League and the Champions League, with a defeat against Brighton in the championship. This negative result highlights the difficulties of the team, which already finds itself five points behind Liverpool in the Premier League.
Injuries play a significant role in this crisis. City must deal with several absences of key players, including Rodri, Jack Grealish and Jérémy Doku. Pep Guardiola, who must manage a reduced squad, is forced to call on players who are not at their best level. This complicates the performance of the team, which struggles to find the usual stability.
LACK OF CHARACTER
Leadership figures Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gündogan spoke publicly about the need for players to show character and stay united in the face of this storm. Walker stressed the importance of getting back up and showing resilience, recalling that City have experience of challenges. Gündogan, for his part, emphasizes collective responsibility and the need to return to the usual level of standards.
TENSIONS?
Internal tensions have also increased. Guardiola had tense exchanges with certain executives, such as Walker and Bernardo Silva. The Catalan coach did not appreciate that certain players, including Grealish, participated in the international selections when they were not in great shape. The nervousness is also felt in Guardiola, who changed his pre-match habits to supervise his team from the warm-up.
On the players’ side, the frustration is palpable. Erling Haaland, in particular, expressed his anger after recent defeats, showing that even strikers are feeling the increased pressure. Guardiola hopes to use the break to turn things around, knowing the team is struggling both in defense and in midfield, particularly in the absence of Rodri.
Finally, the uncertainty around the future of Guardiola, whose contract ends in June, adds further stress. In the midst of a crisis, the club is banking on a rebound after the break and plans to strengthen itself in the transfer window to try to regain its usual dynamic and remain competitive in all competitions. It remains to be seen who will replace the current coach or when will he be renewed?
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