Something is rotten in the state of Manchester. Even an international break and the contract extension for Pep Guardiola can’t change that. In the 4-0 defeat to Tottenham, Manchester City’s sporting misery continued in a memorable way.
The Premier League dominators had already lost four competitive games in a row – albeit all away from home. Now City have also been beaten at their home ground, the Etihad Stadium, where they had not lost in 52 consecutive home games in all competitions since the last game before the winter World Cup in Qatar on November 12, 2022 (1-2 against Brentford).
It has been a long time since a reigning English champion lost five competitive games in a row. The last time it happened was to Chelsea. In March 1956. The last time City left the pitch as losers five times in a row was in 2006 – and the coach was Stuart Pearce.
The fact that it was another defeat against Tottenham (as at the beginning of the current drought) is not that surprising. The Spurs, as strange as it may sound, like Manchester City. Guardiola has conceded more defeats against no other team in his coaching career. Since Saturday evening, there are nine.
“We are very fragile at the moment and can’t defend properly,” said Guardiola after the heaviest home defeat City have ever conceded at the Etihad Stadium (since 2003). ‘We started well, didn’t manage to score and then conceded a goal. That’s when the situation got more complicated.’
Care for some more numbers? 0-4 – Guardiola had only lost twice by this margin as a manager. In the Premier League in 2017 against Everton and in the 2014 Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich against Real Madrid.
“We have never experienced a situation like this in eight years,” says Guardiola, who extended his expiring contract by two more years during the week, also under the impression of the series of defeats, and swore loyalty to City even in the event of a forced relegation. ‘Now we have to get through it and break the streak by winning games, especially the next one.’
Despite the Champions League home game against Feyenoord on Tuesday, Walker meant the Premier League top game at Liverpool next Sunday (5 p.m.). “A great opportunity to turn it around again,” said right-back Kyle Walker on Saturday, but he was also clear: “If we don’t put in a performance like today’s, then they’ll walk all over us.” If that happens, they could be ten points behind the leaders in a fortnight.
“Hopefully,” said Walker, “the mojo will return and we’ll see the City of the past eight seasons again.” However, it seems more unlikely than ever that this will happen.