Manchester City has been struggling with form. The reigning Premier League Champions have now lost five matches in a row. They lost 0-4 at the Etihad Stadium to Tottenham Hotspur in a blistering display of counter-attacking football. With players returning from injuries and questions over manager Pep Guardiola’s future put to rest with a new contract, the international break was supposed to serve as a reset for City.
Instead, Spurs exposed the champions’ defensive vulnerabilities, thanks in large part to a magnificent effort from Dejan Kulusevski, while Erling Haaland had a poor day on the other end. City remains second in the standings with 23 points but is five points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, while Spurs moved up to sixth with 19 points after 12 games. Pep Guardiola has never lost five consecutive games as a manager.
Warning signal for Pep Guardiola’s future
The Spanish manager never before has lost three straight Premier League games as Manchester City boss. They’re not quite the records he’s used to setting. It was Manchester City’s most lopsided loss in their history at Etihad. For 10 minutes, City dominated. Haaland had two wonderful opportunities to score. It seemed only a matter of time before the Spurs goal was breached and the floodgates opened.
Guardiola has issues to deal with. Without Rodri and injured understudy Mateo Kovacic, City’s midfield of Ilkay Gündogan, Rico Lewis, and Bernardo Silva were trampled by Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr. The absence of the Spanish Ballon d’Or winner has harmed both the team and the management. It was the end of a record run of 52 consecutive home matches unbeaten in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola hopes Rúben Dias, who has been out for five games due to injury, can return soon. However, John Stones, who was beginning a Premier League game for the first time in over a month, was forced off at half-time. On Tuesday, Manchester City will face Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League, with a chance to snap their losing streak. On Sunday, City’s league fixtures will begin with a difficult journey to Anfield.
