Pep Guardiola has never experienced such difficulties since he sat on the Manchester City bench. After a complete rout against Tottenham on Saturday, it is time for remobilization among the Citizens who are moving towards the major events of their season.
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Manchester City, four-time reigning English champion, completely collapsed on Saturday at home against Tottenham (4-0), a third defeat in as many Premier League matches which opens an avenue for Liverpool. The Citizens let slip a two-year long invincibility in the championship at home at the Etihad, where they had not lost since November 2022, and let Liverpool fly to the top of the Championship with an 8-point lead at the favor of a 3-2 victory at Southampton. The poster for the coming weekend at Anfield between steamroller Liverpool and a scattered Manchester City will be worth gold, especially for Arne Slot’s team, if they extend their fantastic start to the season.
Pep Guardiola has lost the recipe for success. Two days after announcing his contract extension until 2027, the Spanish coach suffered a fifth defeat in a row, an unprecedented series in his prolific career. “ In eight years, we have never experienced this kind of situationsaid Guardiola, whose team faces Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday. It is now a matter of living it and breaking it by winning the next matches, especially the next one. We see things a certain way, maybe in a few weeks we’ll see them differently. »
“We play a little in our heads, with a little negativity”
The ogre in the sky blue jersey appears weakened by the absences, notably those of Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic and Rodri, his totem midfielder, who came to present his Golden Ball to his supporters before kick-off. But that doesn’t explain all his setbacks. Against Tottenham, Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol was guilty of too loose marking then of a missed restart on the first two goals, scored by James Maddison (13th, 20th) on his 28th birthday. The entire defense seemed overwhelmed and without reaction to the counterattacks concluded by Pedro Porro (53rd, 3-0) and Brennan Johnson (90th + 3, 4-0).
“ We play a little in our heads, with a little negativity, but that’s normaltempered Guardiola. Football is a matter of mood. And when you win a lot, there is a continuity which gives us confidence in our abilities. » City defender Kyle Walker, who struggled physically against Spurs, said it was vital the team “ get back to basics. […] If we concede four goals at home, we must score five. It’s not just the four, five or six defenders, but the eleven players on the pitch. »
However, even in their best moments, City have struggled at Anfield, where they have not won since 2003. This major Premier League meeting, between the two clubs which are jostling for the title of champion of England, will be a turning point in the Mancunians’ season. The opportunity to rebuild confidence, or to collapse and almost definitively let Liverpool slip towards the title.
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