Manchester City, once the juggernaut of English football under Pep Guardiola, now finds itself in a precarious situation, with a six-match winless streak that includes five losses, marking the club’s worst run in over a decade. The 3-3 draw against Feyenoord on November 29 added to the growing sense of unease surrounding Guardiola’s side, pushing the club deeper into unfamiliar territory. For Guardiola, this is the longest winless stretch of his managerial career, a stark contrast to the dominance City enjoyed under his leadership in recent years. The defeat to Feyenoord was yet another blow in a season that’s been marred by disappointing results, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning whether this is just a temporary slump or if it signals the beginning of the end for one of the game’s most successful managers at the Etihad.
Guardiola, a manager known for his calm and collected demeanor, has appeared visibly frustrated in recent weeks. The tension on the touchline has been palpable, with Guardiola exhibiting signs of stress that are rarely seen. The usually composed coach, known for his sharp tactical mind, now looks like a man struggling to find answers. His face, often a picture of focus and determination, has shown the wear and tear of sleepless nights spent trying to solve the tactical conundrum that has stymied his team. Scratches on his head and face have become more noticeable, perhaps a reflection of the mental toll the current situation is taking on him. His commitment to City is unquestionable, especially after he signed a one-year contract extension earlier in the year, but the growing questions about his future are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
At the heart of City’s struggles is the absence of Rodri, their 2024 Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder, whose influence on the pitch cannot be overstated. Rodri has been the engine driving City’s success, his intelligent passing, defensive cover, and composure on the ball crucial to the team’s control of games. Since his ACL injury in September, City’s midfield has been exposed, and the team has struggled to dominate matches the way they once did. Rodri’s absence has left a significant void that no player has been able to fill, and City has looked vulnerable without him. In the 4-1 loss to Sporting CP, for instance, City was unable to contain Viktor Gyokeres, who exploited the midfield’s lack of structure and defensive cover to wreak havoc. Opponents have now figured out how to target City’s weaknesses, particularly in the middle of the park, and without Rodri, City have looked disjointed and susceptible to counterattacks.
Guardiola’s attempts to solve this problem by experimenting with different players in central roles have not yielded the desired results. Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku have both been deployed in midfield, but they lack the defensive discipline and tactical intelligence that Rodri brings. Guardiola’s tactical tinkering, a hallmark of his managerial style, has at times been a strength, but it has now become a weakness. His constant positional rotations—Phil Foden playing deeper one match, then wide the next, for example—have disrupted the team’s rhythm. Players like Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne, typically the creative sparks in City’s attack, have found themselves struggling to adapt to the shifting tactical demands. The lack of a consistent approach on the pitch has made it difficult for the team to regain its usual fluidity, and City’s attacking play has lacked the coherence and precision that were once their trademark.
Further complicating matters is Guardiola’s apparent overreliance on Erling Haaland. Since Julian Alvarez’s departure to Atlético Madrid in the summer, Haaland has become the focal point of City’s attack. While the Norwegian striker remains one of the most potent goal scorers in the world, opposition teams have increasingly focused their efforts on neutralizing him. Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-0 demolition of City on November 23 highlighted this vulnerability. Spurs effectively cut off the service to Haaland, making him a peripheral figure for much of the match. Haaland’s ability to score goals is unquestionable, but when he is isolated and unable to receive the ball in dangerous positions, City’s attack has become one-dimensional and predictable.
City’s recent run of results tells the story of a team in disarray. Losses to Brighton (2-1), Bournemouth (2-1), and the 4-1 drubbing by Sporting CP have exposed serious weaknesses in Guardiola’s system. The loss to Tottenham, a historic 4-0 defeat, was particularly damaging, highlighting just how fragile City’s confidence has become. The pressure is mounting on Guardiola to turn things around, but the task is becoming more difficult with each passing week. Injuries to key players, tactical missteps, and a lack of depth in critical positions have combined to create a perfect storm. Guardiola, a manager renowned for his ability to adapt and evolve, is now facing a challenge that may be unlike any he has encountered in his storied career.
For years, Manchester City has been the model of consistency under Guardiola’s stewardship. The club has won multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, and League Cups, with Guardiola’s tactical brilliance at the heart of their success. However, the current slump has cast doubt on whether this dominance is sustainable in the long term. Guardiola has been lauded for his ability to reinvent teams and adapt to challenges, but now, the question is whether he can find the solutions that will bring City back to its best.
The stakes could not be higher for Guardiola and Manchester City. Can they turn things around before it’s too late, or is this the beginning of a dramatic fall from grace? The answers to these questions may determine not only City’s season but also the future of Pep Guardiola at the club. For Guardiola, who has already established himself as one of the greatest managers of his generation, this crisis will be a defining moment in his career. It will be a test of his tactical genius, his resilience under pressure, and his ability to adapt to an evolving football landscape. As the pressure mounts, Guardiola’s legacy at City may hinge on his ability to navigate this challenging period and restore the team to its former glory.
