“We don’t have the players,” Guardiola told TNT Sports on Saturday when asked about Manchester City’s title chances. “It’s more difficult. I don’t have the feeling now. Maybe it’s going to happen, who knows? But I have the feeling that, now, we have to think in the short term. We cannot put a lot of big, big targets.”
The Spanish manager finds himself in uncharted territory as he navigates through a crisis unlike any he has faced before. Prior to this month, Guardiola had never experienced losing four consecutive league matches with any of his teams, according to Opta statistics, while Manchester City had not endured such a streak since 2006.
Despite grappling with an injury crisis, Manchester City continues to boast a squad filled with expensive and talented players. However, their attacking prowess appears disjointed and lacking in creativity, evidenced by their meager return of only 10 goals in the last nine league games. The team’s star striker, Erling Haaland, had minimal impact during the recent match against Villa, touching the ball just once inside the opposition penalty area in the 89th minute.
The prolonged period of poor form has taken its toll on the players’ confidence, with Haaland admitting that the team’s morale is far from ideal. “We know how important confidence is and you can see that it affects every human being,” he remarked. “That is how it is, we have to continue and stay positive even though it is difficult, and we have to keep working hard.”
The core players who have been instrumental in Manchester City’s success in recent years are not getting any younger. Kyle Walker, renowned for his defensive acumen and speed, is now 34 and has shown signs of vulnerability with lapses in concentration at crucial moments. Kevin de Bruyne, at 33, faces an uncertain future at the club as his contract nears expiration this year, while İlkay Gündoğan, also 34, struggled in midfield against Villa.
Despite the challenges, Haaland emphasized that the team retains faith in Guardiola, the manager who has guided them to numerous trophies in the past. Manchester City’s upcoming fixture against Everton on December 26 marks the beginning of a less demanding run of games, offering a potential opportunity to rediscover their winning form.
