New Delhi: After yet another dismal performance from Manchester City against Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium, with a 4-0 loss, there’s heavy scrutiny on the reigning champions. Pep Guardiola’s ability to turn things around for the side is also being questioned, having extended his contract last week for another year.
After Saturday’s loss, Guardiola commented that a loss against Liverpool at Anfield could mean that City are out of the title race. Coming into the season on the back of four consecutive Premier League titles, City had started well. However, a string of injuries has now led to the side losing three games in a row in the Premier League and five across competitions, a first in 18 years. The latest to be added to the injury list was John Stones, who was forced to walk off the field at halftime.
A win this Sunday for title contenders Liverpool would put them eight points ahead of Man City. Guardiola himself has said that if City loses next weekend, the gap of 11 points will be too big to bridge, as Liverpool was on a winning roll. Before facing Merseyside, they have a Champions League clash with Feyenoord on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola’s first step to recovering Manchester City
Guardiola insisted that the side wasn’t too worried about the end-of-the-season result. The Spaniard noted that they would be lifting the title only if they were the deserving side. For Guardiola, his first job is to figure out a way to beat Feyenoord’s side. An area look would be, of course, the defence, which has conceded 14 goals in their last five outings. A win on Tuesday would ensure the side is in contention for the Champions League knockout stage.
Guardiola admitted that they were a “fragile” side at the moment while reflecting on the loss against Tottenham. There’s little doubt that their opponents were better on the day, with James Maddison scoring his brace within the first 20 minutes of the game with goals from Pedro Porro and substitute Brennan Johnson in the second half.
🔵 Pep Guardiola tells BBC: “In eight years, we’ve never lived this kind of situation”.
“Now we have to live it, and we have to break it winning the next games, and especially the next one…”.
“We will be back. We will do it”. pic.twitter.com/tRCTsb7pyI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 23, 2024
Guardiola admitted that he had never expected to lose three games on the trot but reiterated that they had been consistent in the past and that losses were part of the game. After eight years at the helm of the English side, Guardiola acknowledged that a drop in performance was inevitable. For his side to turn positive, they will need to break out of their losing streak, which always increases confidence within the unit.
For City, they have always thrived on challenges and turning around their season yet again has been done on previous occasions. After their loss to Aston Villa last season, they remained undefeated for the entire season to lift their eighth Premier League title.
After Manchester City lost their fifth game in a row, Pep Guardiola has admitted, that they would be out of title race if they lose at Anfield next weekend. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
