The defeat to Brighton in round 11 of the Premier League was the first time in his coaching career that Pep Guardiola lost 4 consecutive matches. It would be too early to say an empire is collapsing, but there is a sense that they are starting to weaken.
In the four defeats mentioned above, one was in the Carabao Cup and another was in the Champions League, where Man City are 10th in the table. Even if they do not make it into the top 8, they still have a chance to play in the play-off. But two of the most recent defeats have been in the Premier League, away to Bournemouth and then Brighton. As a result, The Citizens are five points behind leaders Liverpool.
It is no surprise that Man City are inconsistent at this stage of the season. Guardiola's teams usually peak in March and April. They will suddenly accelerate and overtake their competitors. It feels like Guardiola needs a certain period to experiment with his formation or tactics.
Right at this time last season, they had a difficult period - winning only 1 out of 6 matches in the Premier League. After the final match of that run, a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, Man City have 34 points from 17 games.
This season, they have 23 points from 11 games. When reaching the 19-match mark, it is likely that The Citizens will have about 40 points like last year. Arne Slot's Liverpool are now perhaps more formidable than Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. Therefore, Man City's away trip to Anfield in early December will show a clearer picture. However, given their own points, there is no reason for Man City to panic.
Guardiola has been at the Etihad long enough to feel familiar with Man City's flaws. He liked a high midfield line, accepting the threat of a back half. That is why Man City spend a lot of time focusing on controlling and not losing the ball in situations that can lead to counter-attacks.
Therefore, Rodri's absence at this time has made Man City vulnerable. Injuries should never be an excuse - the best teams don't focus on absences but have to find a way to fix it. But if that is a reason, Guardiola should be doing the same.
Kevin De Bruyne has just returned, Ruben Dias and John Stones are absent in defence. In addition, the absence of Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb has also reduced their creativity.
Guardiola has also begun to speak openly about the Citizens' fatigue. Almost all of their players are playing too much. Maintaining the players' hunger is one of the big challenges for successful coaches. And in that context, how has the Premier League's accusations against Man City affected them?
