“Manchester City under Guardiola: difficult challenges in the coming weeks”
Hey Koura: After Manchester City suffered four consecutive defeats, the team finds itself in an unfamiliar situation under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, especially with the approaching period of stopping matches due to national team entitlements.
This series of consecutive losses poses a major challenge, in addition to the absence of star midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez until the end of the season, which increases the pressure on Guardiola’s squad to find quick solutions.
When the English Premier League returns after the break, Manchester City will face a group of decisive matches that will determine the team’s path in the title competition:-
Tottenham at Etihad Stadium – Manchester City will meet on November 23 with Tottenham, which eliminated them from the League Cup with a score of 2-1, a loss that reflected some weaknesses that City needs to fix, especially with Rodrygo’s injury.
Facing Liverpool – On December 1, City goes to Anfield to face leaders Liverpool, who are five points ahead of them.
-Nottingham Forest – On December 4, City hosts Nottingham Forest, which is considered the surprise of the season by finishing in third place.
Another match that will test City’s ability to regain its level against a strong defensive team.
-Crystal Palace away from home – On December 7, City visits Crystal Palace, as it is always difficult to play at home.
– Manchester Derby – On December 15, City will host its traditional rival Manchester United, led by its new coach Ruben Amorim, who previously led Sporting Lisbon to beat City 4-1 in the Champions League.
-Aston Villa led by Unai Emery – On December 21, City will face Aston Villa, which is witnessing significant improvement under Emery’s leadership.
– End of the year against Everton – On December 26, City will host Everton in a Boxing Day match, as it seeks to achieve a victory that will restore confidence to its fans before the year ends.
Guardiola must find alternatives capable of leading the midfield and protecting the defense in crucial matches, in the absence of Rodrigo Hernandez.
In addition, City must improve its defense line to restore its tactical stability and overcome the difficulties that have emerged recently.
If Manchester City can successfully pass these matches, its chances of returning strongly to the title race will increase.
However, any stumble may complicate the team’s mission in maintaining the competition, especially with the difficulty of the matches in the coming period.
