Manchester City’s spark has been noticeably absent over the past six weeks, and it was again missing in their latest lackluster performance. This has become a peculiar, yet familiar, aspect of Pep Guardiola’s once-dominant team. The surreal nature of City’s decline is striking. While losing streaks are not uncommon, for a championship-caliber team to lose seven out of ten games and manage just one victory in that span is perplexing.
Guardiola himself seems baffled, admitting that his team should have secured more wins since their first loss against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on October 30. His comments, possibly aimed at motivating the squad, came before this latest setback. However, it did not yield the desired result. Instead, Juventus claimed a crucial win, thanks to Dusan Vlahovic’s header in the 53rd minute and a second goal scored by Weston McKennie after a swift counterattack orchestrated by Timothy Weah.
Both goals were scored by substitutes introduced by Thiago Motta, while Guardiola, 75 minutes into the game, had yet to make any changes. This was another indication of the lethargy affecting Guardiola and his players. At kick-off, both City and Juventus were tied at 20th and 22nd place, respectively, each with eight points, four shy of the last automatic qualification spot. This match was thus a critical encounter for two continental heavyweights in desperate need of a victory to boost their domestic prospects.
In recent weeks, Guardiola has appeared isolated, a feeling that stems from consecutive losses. For the first time in his nine years at City, he has cited injuries as a mitigating factor, though he fielded a strong lineup here. The team featured Ilkay Gündogan as the holding midfielder, with Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish as dual playmakers. Rico Lewis played at left-back, but his defensive vulnerabilities were exposed multiple times, such as when Francisco Conceição overpowered him, leading to a Juventus corner.
Guardiola has identified too many mistakes as a key issue plaguing his side. He urged his players to play “simple,” only to witness Lewis and Josko Gvardiol send errant passes that failed to find Grealish near Juventus’s area. Gündogan and Kyle Walker also made similar errors, misplacing passes that should have reached Jérémy Doku on the left. These lapses left Guardiola visibly frustrated. When De Bruyne finally connected with a teammate, Erling Haaland’s clumsy touch sent the ball ricocheting off his foot.
City thrives on quick, decisive attacks, and they briefly recaptured this style when Doku sprinted infield, prompting De Bruyne to create an underlap. The resulting cross forced Juventus to scramble and clear the ball. However, Walker’s performance was a cause for concern. The right-back, now 34, seems to have lost a step, making him an easy target for criticism. His error that allowed Vlahovic to charge toward Ederson’s goal was particularly damning.
The first half mirrored City’s recent struggles. They lacked energy and confidence, a surprising state for a team that has won the last four Premier League titles. A jolt is needed to reignite City’s former prowess, and Guardiola is confident they can regain their form. De Bruyne created a chance that could have sparked a turnaround, but Haaland failed to capitalize. Guardiola’s frustration was evident as he clapped his hands above his head in encouragement, a gesture that did little to alter City’s flat performance.
Thiago Motta’s Juventus were also struggling to find rhythm, but City’s defensive blunders handed them an advantage. After Federico Gatti’s scissor-kick was denied by Ederson, Gvardiol’s clearance missed Walker, allowing Manuel Locatelli to cross. Vlahovic’s header, though straight at Ederson, bounced off the goalkeeper’s chest and trickled into the net. Juventus climbed to 14th place, while City slipped to 22nd. Grealish’s attempt to create an opportunity for Bernardo Silva was blocked, and Ederson’s spill of a cross left City on the brink.
The question remains: where is the fluid passing and goal-scoring confidence that defined City in the past? Guardiola’s first season at City also saw a lack of conviction, leading to a trophyless year. History may repeat itself this season.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
