As Manchester City continue to unravel, a team that set a precedence by winning the English Premiership arguably the most competitive league in the world from Europe`s top 5 leagues Germany, Spain and especially France have predictable outcomes, Italy of recent hardly have a dominant side, City have won four times in succession, a record which may not be breached both now or in the nearest future. obviously defeating Pep`s City is really a herculean task, truly one of football`s greatest test. It was always going to take its toil, Even in victory it was not smooth sailing, the cracks seemingly started appearing almost immediately to the discerning eyes, their last match of last season was supposed to be a convincing victory against their eternal rivals and neighbor Manchester United, a team that was struggling, had failed to reach the champions league qualification spots, in this competition barely crawling into the final, had thrown away a three goal lead against Coventry a club that plays in the second tier and had managed to pull through on penalties. City were favorites to retain the double after a treble win of the previous season. The procession was barely a formality with the bookmakers clearly giving them an odd of about 1.33 to win, an expected landslide victory, but the beleaguered team from the other side of Manchester had other ideas, a stunning two goals in the first half from a counter attacking masterclass and a low block defensive hold restricted City to a goal and inflicted them with a painful loss, retrieving the FA cup from an opponent that defeated them in the previous FA cup finals, they met again in the season opening community shield, United found a way of losing despite taking a lead in the 82nd minute and was leading the penalty shootout after Silva scorer of the equalizer in the 89th minute had lost the first spot kick.
It offered some signs of City`s vulnerabilities despite winning two of the three recent titles. The 2024/2025 season started brightly when they dispatched Chelsea and won three other matches and shared in the lead with Liverpool at the top of the league, but those signs were revealing especially in the matches against Italian champions Inter Milan at the Etihad, a lifeless and scoreless draw and a tight 2-2 draw also at home against Arsenal even with a man advantage since the end of the first half then with narrow wins against Wolves (with the winner which came at the 95th minute to make it 2-1 ) Fulham in a roller coaster 3-2 affair with the always reliable Walker showing signs of depreciation, his poor judgement clearly at fault for Arsenal`s equalizer when he was out of position. For the untrained eyes it was grit and a champions mentality in grinding out those results but a drop in form and ultimately confidence have opened the floodgates of defeat, a five in a row defeat which is the first in Pep`s entire career even the champions league encounter against the Dutch, Feyenoord when they threw away a three goal lead like United felt like a defeat, it was the sixth time in as many matches that they had conceded two or more goals since may 1963.
Feyenoord in celebration mood against City.
It all started when their first loss came against Tottenham in the League cup losing 2-1, it was not such a surprise. but their first League defeat by Bournemouth that halted their 32-match unbeaten league run caused a stir with two brilliant crosses from Kerkez for the two goals. City pulled a goal back but it was too late. In the champions league Sporting Lisbon inflicted a heavy 4-1 defeat despite City taking the lead. it was a game that City`s defense was brutally exposed, Brighton made it four in a row and the second consecutive loss in the Premiership, their attack by- passed the midfield with long incisive crosses that opened up City`s defence, they also won the second balls with both goals as a result of a sharpness and willingness to win the physical duels, they had the belief that they could get a result and made it possible.
In their second meeting with Tottenham, the first defeat was like an aberration, a cup tie with the least significance, some player rotation and whatever description that can be given to it, this match was expected to be a statement win for City, an opportunity to write all the wrongs, an encounter with a team that struggled against Ipswich at home and Galatasaray in the Europa league, the Turkish team had Oshimen the Nigerian star, the most lethal striker from the U17 world cup and did not survive, on paper against Haaland the U20 world cup most dangerous threat, he still holds the record for the most goals in a single match with nine scored in the 12-0 demolition of Honduras it was assumed with conclusion that the white Lily will stand no chance, what with their makeshift defence and inconsistent form. It was almost going according to plan, Bissouma with a yellow card in less than a minute,a sign of jitters but again, Tottenham were settling in, acquainted with City`s game, with the previous defeats making them weary and ready, they pounced within 20 minutes they were already two goals up, Kulusevski the league`s most potent creator (30 created chances) provided the assist for birthday boy Maddison, and City provided him with an on -field gift a careless pass from Gvardiol, which was intercepted and he combined with Son Heung-Min to score the second goal, Maddison was also in the Leicester team that inflicted City`s most recent defeat, ex City player Pedro Porro added a third after Kulusevski nutmegged Gundogan in midfield before releasing a pass that led to a fine counter attacking move with Solanke showing great composure and selflessness to hold on and feedback the Spanish international, the fourth was a combination between two substitutes Werner and Johnson the goal scorer, a final icing on the cake.
Tottenham spell City with four unreplied goals
The 4-0 score line went viral across the world and the history book custodians were sent into a frenzy, searching for new stats from this astonishing display, it was Manchester City`s first home loss since a 2-1 loss to Brentford in 2022, their 35 match domestic home run and 52 in all competitions ending with the most emphatic of defeats, their last of such result at home was against Leicester losing 5-2 in 2020, Barcelona also handed a 4-0 defeat in Pep`s early years as City`s coach and they lost with a similar score at Goodison park against Everton in 2017 with Italy based Lukaku and Ademola Lookman in the score sheet and a 5-1 thrashing by Arsenal in 2003 a team that was peaking towards the Invincibles a year later, understandably it was not the Manchester City that we know today, this was a third consecutive league loss.It was a dismantling that served almost as a warning, signaling the end of an era.
Tottenham with the best attack in the league, provided the ultimate lesson on how to rough handle the champions, they have a certificate in this regard their 9 wins is the most from any team Pep Guardiola has faced. Their two wins, a home win in the league cup and now an away win in the league in less than a month another evidence of their credentials. one of the select few to do a double over City and knock them out from the Champions league.
Five Star Performance
Red hot spurs!
In essence five of these defeats makes up a blueprint this season on how to beat Manchester City, the defeat cuts across the domestic and European stage, from well-organized and compact teams, the City Team is beginning to lose the essence of its core competencies, as an individual Rodri the current Ballon D`or winner the first from England since Ronaldo in 2008, had received his award before the match, the man that has not tasted defeat when playing with City since the FA cup loss a sequence of 75 games which dated back to 2023 in February against Tottenham and have won 78% as against 50% without him, a clear stat of what he brings to the table, to the playing field, a defensive midfielder that provides a shield and also scores some of the important goals as well as a winning aura, collectively they are losing that intensity and ability to control games with or without the ball one of their major strengths also, their squad is aging with their main players having peaked or nursing several injuries Kelvin De Bruyne, Walker, Rodri, Gundogan, Dias and Silva. such losses also have a way of impacting confidence and creating doubts reducing the application of effort on the field to mediocrity, for the opponents they have come to realize that the City is for the taking and are motivated to strike the fatal blow, the shots they concede has increased to 1.17 as against 0.66 the previous season according to Opta even their distance covered across the pitch has reduced to 109.6km, the team that could impose and position optimally against almost any opponent and then suffocate them with incisive passing, ball retention and lethal finishing are now a shadow of themselves Brighton came from a goal down and were even showing signs of scoring more if the game was extended, they anticipated every threat and were comfortable against them, Amorim now Manchester United`s current coach also came from a goal down, his 3-4-3 formation was used to choke City and created a quick transition for Gyokeres to capitalize on.
Guardiola has his work cut out and a long way to go to steady his team,his next match against Liverpool will provide another challenge that will determine if Manchester City can still be in contention for a fifth league title.
