his most delicate moment in sports and personally

He Manchester City he goes back to his old ways. The team trained by Pep Guardiola adds a new defeat in Champions Leaguehe third consecutive setbackand life is complicated even to reach the round of 16. The Juventus (2-0) has been more effective in Turin with goals from Dusan Vlahovic y Weston McKennieand has gotten the Mancunian team into trouble: 22nd position with eight pointsone point above PSGhis next rival and in first place outside the playoff.

The Barça legend goes through his most difficult moment since he manages the Manchester club. For once, work life has stopped smiling at him with its biggest setback since he became a coach. In the last 10 partieslos sky blues have harvested 7 defeatsfive of which consecutive, of draws and one single victory. In the top continental competition, two wins, two draws and two other defeats.

They started well

However, City’s course had started straightening out like every year in the 2024-25 season. Pep won the Community Shield in the penalty shootout against Manchester United (7-6) and knocked down Chelsea on the first day of the Premier League (0-2). In domestic competition he chained four wins to a draw in the high-altitude duel against Arsenal (2-2). And not only were two points lost, but also Rodri for the rest of the season, with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee.

The lack of aim also marred the European premiere against the Inter Milan and the last day of Premier in September against the Newcastle United (1-1). Precisely, if Pep can boast of anything, it is having raised six of the last seven Premier Leagues.

The worst streak

City seemed to be getting going again in search of a seventh without opposition. In October, double Champions League victory against Slavic Bratislava (0-4) y Sparta from Prague (5-0). Also three victories in domestic competition. The last one, by the minimum before the Southampton (1-0), was the prelude to a nightmare that still persists a month and a half later.

To close October, an early elimination of the League Cup at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) on October 28. The defeat against spurs It was the first of five consecutive ones that the same pupils of Ange Postecoglou with a poker at Etihad Stadium (0-4).

To aggravate the bad dynamics, the Feyenoord came back three goals ahead in 15 minutes (3-3) to seal a tie that culminated a black November. Four defeats y a tie in official commitment. The coach’s anger was enormous, and he ended up with his face scratched from frustration.

Plague of casualties

What has changed so much in a matter of weeks? The citizens They accuse the plague of injuries in recent months, with three top-level defenders as John Stones, Manuel Akanji y Nathan Ake low. But above all, Pep lacks Rodri Hernandezwinner of Ballon d’Or and his right eye. The cornerstone that guides the English team like a lighthouse will not be able to return for a year.

In early November, the rain of casualties reached its most critical point. The infirmary was packed and Guardiola only had 13 field players at his disposal. Hence results as embarrassing and bulky as the defeat against Sporting CP (4-1). But the slump has extended until December, with an initial defeat against Liverpool (2-0), a draw against Crystal Palace (2-2), a single victory against Nottingham Forest (3-0) and another stumble. European in Turin (2-0).

Weight absences

There is no doubt that Rodri’s absence has weighed heavily, as the Santpedor coach has also admitted in the mixed zone after losing to Juve: “Of course it is important (Rodri). Very important for us. I wish we had it, but we’re not going to have it.. But this has not been the only reason. We have other reasons why it has cost us in terms of results, but the game is there“.

Overall, all of Pep’s problems have come together in the form of an injury: “When you have four injured centre-backs for time and Kovacic also injured last month, Foden who has had problems…, we have had many player absences, but the game is there. “We have controlled the tempo we had to play, we have reached the end, we have lacked in actions, but little by little we will recover it through the results.”

worst moment

Personally, Guardiola is also going through a delicate moment. After the frustrated dream of coaching England, who finally chose Thomas Tuchelthe Catalan strategist renew two more years with City. Despite the announced march from his friend and football director Little Begiristain for the end of this season, and what the club faces, accused of 115 charges for violating the regulations of Fair Play, the captain does not abandon the ship.

This month of December, Pep has starred in controversial episodes against other fans such as the Liverpool fans at Anfield, when the stands red He mocked the bad streak of the citizens and the visiting coach raised six fingers as a sign of the Premier titles won.

regrettable episode

Guardiola also took it with his own fans at the Etihad Stadium. During the victory against Nottingham, he began to hear contrary chants to his figure and He turned against the fans sitting behind the bench. The last straw was a fan who provoked him in the street by reminding him that he had lost.

If it weren’t for Mario Guardiolahis son, separated him, the Manchester City coach would have come to blows with the fan in question. “Do you know what it’s like to lose? Do you want me to show you? Do you want me to show you?“, Pep replied out of his mind.