The keys to Guardiola’s worst streak: ”I knew sooner or later I had to fall”

Pep Guardiola He is experiencing an unusual situation in his sports career. After the trouble at home against Tottenham (0-4) his team has lost 5 games in a row for the first time in his career.

The Mancunians are second in the table Premier League five points from Liverpoolbut those from Anfield can extend that advantage to 8 if they beat Southampton today. That means next Sunday there’s Liverpool vs Manchester City at Anfield, despite the 13th matchday, it could be the match that starts to decide – or not – the league.

What is wrong with Manchester City?

The moment the ‘sky blue’ is experienced is as unusual as it is unexpected. Therefore, the football world is wondering: What is happening at Manchester City? We’ll examine 5 of the problems the team has right now.

The disappearance of Rodrigo Hernández

A team without balance

Just yesterday Rodrigo Hernández presented the Etihad audience with the Ballon d’Or he won a few weeks ago. Soon after, he was seriously injured and would miss most of the season. Since his injury, except for the games against mediocre Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Prague, the team has failed five times, won 4 at least and tied one more game. It stopped being a steamroller and lost its balance. He has difficulty doing damage and is weak in the back. Rodri is one of those players who is greatly appreciated when he is there, but admired even more in his absence.

2

A flan on the back

Receives about one and a half goals per game

Guardiola’s team is struggling to keep a clean sheet. In 12 Premier games they scored 17 goals, giving an average of almost a goal and a half per game. A fact that contrasts with the 6 goals conceded in 11 games at Liverpool. There are only seven teams worse in that aspect in the table. Ederson does not perform miracles.

3

The state of defense

Walker, Aké and Akanji are far from their level

When a drop like City’s happens at some point in the season it usually coincides with the poor form of some key players. Kyle Walker is just a few years away from his best, both defensively and offensively. He appeared in several pictures of goals against and that led him to alternate starts and substitutes. The same thing happens with Aké and Akanji. Even Gvardiol also made individual mistakes that weighed on the cityzen.

4

The middle of the field, not working

Someone has to step forward

To know how Guardiola’s team is doing, just look at the performance of its midfielders. Beyond Rodri’s injury, Kovacic, who is also absent, is the only one to provide the expected performance. Young Lewis also added as a winger and in the middle. But missed Foden, who in 9 games gave only one assist. Last year he was named MVP for floating in green and scoring 19 goals and providing 8 assists in 35 games. Bernardo Silva is slow, imprecise and lacks ideas. He looks tired. Injuries continue to plague a De Bruyne who has so far been insignificant. Not to mention Gundogan, who after his ‘erasmus’ at Barça is back far from his best level. After three quarters, Savinho was one of the few to do otherwise. The team is predictable and easier to defend than ever.

5

Injuries in key positions

Miss Dias

Injuries never stop affecting football squads and City are not spared. In defense he sorely misses his leader, Rubén Dias. In the middle of the field, Rodri and De Bruyne, their most different players. So is Kovacic. In the extreme, everyone is rarely healthy at the same time. Now Bobb and Doku are outside. Grealish has recently been injured. A drama that doesn’t help, especially considering that ‘plan b’ Julián Alvarez is gone.

In a press conference, the former FC Barcelona player wanted to make the situation natural. ”The exceptional, what we have experienced in these years, is not eternal…”

For eight years… I knew that sooner or later I had to fall. Now we have to live it up, and we have to destroy it by winning the next games, and especially the next one…. We will be back. “We will.”