Manchester City are facing elimination from the group stage of this year's Champions League. Coach Pep Guardiola also became weak and confused after experiencing his 7th defeat in 10 matches.
Just a month ago, no one could have imagined that The Citizens would be in the situation they are in now. However, after a 0-2 loss to Juventus, Guardiola's team has fallen into a dead end.
Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie saw City sink. They are currently 22nd in the Champions League, just one point above 25th-placed Paris St Germain. The Citizens face PSG next, and a loss in that game could see them eliminated from the Champions League.
But while that prospect would be painful for a club of City’s stature and ambition, the biggest problem lies with Guardiola. Could this be the beginning of the end of his incredible eight-year reign at the Etihad?
Is Guardiola’s position at City under threat after the club’s unprecedented decline? It is highly unlikely that the club’s board, led by chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak in Turin, would overreact to the point of sacking the most successful manager in City’s history. The Citizens’ trust and support for Guardiola is not at issue.
The Spaniard has had poor results while leading Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Man City. However, he has never experienced a crisis as serious as this one.
Guardiola’s illustrious career of near-uninterrupted success since winning the treble with Barcelona in his first season in 2008-09 has taken him to a new level. In other words, he has risen above the trials and tribulations of his contemporaries. Ironically, he now has to deal with them himself.
Asked after the defeat to Juventus if he was questioning himself, Guardiola admitted he was, but in a defiant tone rather than hinting at a lack of confidence.
"Of course I ask myself and I have my thoughts. I'm always stable in good moments and bad moments. I try to find a way to do that," Guardiola said.
With Man City playing in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States next summer, their season still has seven months to go. The biggest concern is that Guardiola and his players appear to be running out of energy and ideas.
