It could seem shocking. Before the national team break, Manchester City lost four straight games for the first time since 2006. Coach Pep Guardiola lost four straight in regular time for the first time ever. City are five points behind Liverpool, and many are wondering what is wrong. But imagine that a team were to dominate for 10 years, without getting tired. Wouldn’t that be much weirder? “Taking life” by the players City have been that team for seven years now. Six league titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups, one Champions League. They have played so well, so often, for so long, that the machine is now broken. We can blame a little on the rumors surrounding Pep Guardiola, who finally renewed his contract this Tuesday. Or that sporting director Txiki Begiristain will soon leave, or that City may be relegated when the verdict on the 115 charges comes in the new year. But even the best car can’t run forever without the wheels falling off. DISAPPOINTED: Manchester City rarely lose, but the last four games have been a letdown for Erling Braut Haaland and the rest. Photo: Armando Franca / AP It wasn’t just that City lost against Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton. Everything happened in 11 days. All the losses were gone. Flights, buses, hotels: London, London, Lisbon, Brighton. This is how City have traveled and played for years. They won the treble last year, and could well do it again in May. In two seasons, they have played 120 games. Recently, the global players’ association FIFPro made a list of the 10 names in the world who had featured in the most match squads since 16 July 2018. Seven of them play or have played for City. MOST PLAYING TIME: The seven players with the most minutes play or have played at Manchester City. Photo: Screenshot X/ FIFPRO Guardiola has reminded us that the team has fought through pain and fatigue. That the calendar is a scandal. That we “kill the players” with so many matches. Nothing has changed. City have continued to win. And now they have become victims of their own success. Missing the conductor Almost the entire team has struggled with something this season. The biggest miss is Rodri, the conductor of the team, and the guy who said in September that the players could strike if the calendar was not changed. Then he tore his cruciate ligament, one of the worst injuries a football player can suffer. Since the summer of last year, City have played 53 games with Rodri, losing one. In the same period, they have played 24 games without Rodri, and lost eight. Even before the four losses, City struggled to narrow wins against Fulham, Wolves and Southampton. We knew that Rodri was important, and he won the Ballon d’Or in October. Just how important Rodri is is felt most when he is gone. PAIN: Row down with pain. Photo: Jason Cairnduff / Reuters Waiter and playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has not started a league game since September. When City lost against Brighton two weeks ago, Jérémy Doku was out. Jack Grealish was out. According to Guardiola, four stoppers were injured. Among the England players who reached the European Championship final in July, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden are yet to reach their prime. The great Norwegian talent Oscar Bobb broke a bone in his foot in August. Among the superstars, only Erling Braut Haaland is healthy, fast and rested. And in recent weeks, even he has missed the target – at least in light blue. The fate of the finalists You could say that City should deal with this. They are rich and have a deep stable. Everyone gets hurt. But City’s situation has been extreme, and no team wins every week without their best. Liverpool had missed Mohamed Salah. Arsenal have missed Martin Ødegaard. Guardiola has drawn a parallel to Liverpool. In 2022-23, the Reds reached three finals and fought for the league title until the end. There were 63 games. The following season they limped into fifth place. The 60+ matches are in addition to the national matches. Looking at the 10 outfield players who started the EC final for England, apart from Walker, Stones and Foden, Bukayo Saka has now been injured twice. Declan Rice played the last league game with a broken toe. Luke Shaw and Jude Bellingham were injured immediately after the final and Shaw is yet to play again. In the Spanish final team, you could find Dani Carvajal from Real Madrid, who, like City, has come a long way in many tournaments, for a long time. Like Rodri, Carvajal has warned against the jam-packed calendar. Like Rodri, Carvajal has now torn his cruciate ligament. If there is a picture that sums up the state of the top players in 2024, it is Rodri going up to the podium to receive the Ballon d’Or – on crutches. ON CRUTCHES: Rodri posed for the press with his partner Laura Iglesisas during the Ballon d’Or earlier this year. Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP The drive continues Can City recover from these four losses? Of course. Guardiola has been satisfied with some of the performances, and both against Sporting and Brighton, City played well at times. Only two of the defeats sting. The loss against Tottenham was with the B team in the league cup, the least important tournament. The loss against Sporting was in the Champions League, where City will progress well regardless. In the league, Liverpool are unlikely to keep the same pace all the way through. We remember 2022-23, when City struggled in the winter and stormed to the title in the spring. But first several players must get healthy and find their best form. THE GANG ON THE BENCH: Manchester City players Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanj on the bench against Brighton & Hove Albion on 9 November. Photo: Paul Childs / Reuters And whatever happens with City, the run will continue after the season. In June, there is the World Cup for club teams in the USA, which City’s directors want to participate in in order to acquire more fans and more money. Madness, says Guardiola, but he is not the one who decides. If there was a team that was going to pay the price for the match programme, it was Guardiola’s City. In this sense, it is natural that they have lost four in a row. The most special thing is that it hasn’t happened long before. Published 22.11.2024, at 16.22
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It is logical that Manchester City is struggling now – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
