5 underlying problems for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City 

This has been Pep Guardiola's worst start to a league season in his managerial career
This has been Pep Guardiola's worst start to a league season in his managerial career

Manchester United shocked the footballing world when they triumphed over bitter rivals Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday. Goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in the first half capped a stunning performance by Ole Gunnar Solskajer's side who have now beaten both Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur and Pep Guardiola's City in the space of just three days. The Red Devils have lifted themselves up to fifth place in the Premier League table and if their current form continues, they could still challenge for a top-four finish this season.

Meanwhile, the 2-1 defeat sliced open a massive 14-point gap between Manchester City and league leaders Liverpool. Pep Guardiola, in his post-match interview, admitted that catching Liverpool is now "unrealistic" but he defended City's lack-lustre display on Saturday night, claiming that he was "more than happy with the performance".

The English champions have already lost four times this term, as many times as they did in the whole of last season. As a result, retaining the title seems almost like an impossibility. Some have resorted to blame Guardiola's team selections, some have attacked the central defenders and some have dug into deeper issues of motivation and desire.

The domestic treble-holders have been absolutely unplayable in the past couple of seasons and this campaign's sudden downfall was almost unpredictable. Manchester City's next three Premier League games before the end of the year are away to Arsenal, at home to Leicester, away to Wolves and finally at home to Sheffield, none of which are straight-forward wins on-paper. The champions have to now forget about winning the title and begin to make plans on how they can get back on track this season. This article, therefore, focuses on the five underlying problems at Manchester City right now.


#5 Lack of motivation

Manchester City's back-to-back Premier League titles hampered their motivation this season
Manchester City's back-to-back Premier League titles hampered their motivation this season

Manchester City have broken all sorts of Premier League records in their previous two campaigns, winning the two titles with a combined 198 points. They have also won the Carabao Cup twice and the FA Cup in the process making them arguably one of the greatest teams in English footballing history.

This season was supposed to be more of the same but Saturday’s defeat to Manchester United has somewhat put Pep Guardiola’s side in a mini mid-season crisis. The champions have already dropped 20 points this season, as much as they did in the whole of last season. Whilst the defeat at Anfield was not largely surprising, the losses to Norwich and Wolves and the recent draw at Newcastle have been significant eye-catchers.

City haven’t been atrocious but there seems to be a certain lack of intensity in their game this season. Sure, they have shown how ruthless they are in the 8-0 thrashing of Watford and also shown their metal in the 2-1 comeback win against Southampton. However, there is a clear lack of motivation among the players, which could be seen even yesterday against United.

Manchester City have already lost four Premier League matches this season
Manchester City have already lost four Premier League matches this season

The defense looked callous and leaky, the midfielders lethargic and laborious and the attack non-existent. And this has been the case for several other games this season. Guardiola’s footballing philosophy has made City one of the most watchable teams in Europe with their slick play and possession-based football. However, this season, City have unusually resorted to putting in crosses with little to no effect.

Apart from Otamendi’s header against United, City have also been largely wasteful from corners. Meanwhile, their possession rates have also dipped which has resulted in them not being able to dominate games as much as they used to. Many would argue that VAR has also played its part in increasing Manchester City’s woes this season but if Guardiola’s side can find their feet again, they might still be able to turn this season around.

Also check out: Premier League Premier League Table Champions League table

#4 The Silva duo

Bernardo Silva and David Silva haven't been at their mercurial best for City this season
Bernardo Silva and David Silva haven't been at their mercurial best for City this season

Manchester City captain David Silva is arguably the greatest ever player in the club’s history. Many would make a case for Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany but the Spaniard has been absolutely incredible for City since his arrival in 2010.

Now in his tenth and final season for the club, Silva, 33, is captaining a City side which has broken all domestic records in their last two campaigns. As much as fans love to see the midfielder’s magic and trickery, he has somewhat been off-the-pace lately. He is, at times, slow to react and fails to grasp the high-tempo of the game. Statistically speaking, Silva has lost more balls in his own half compared to last season and his average ball recoveries in the opponent’s half has also dropped. His passing accuracy has also taken a downward fall and he doesn’t score as frequently as he did in previous seasons. No doubt Silva is still one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, Guardiola needs to stop starting him in every game. The Spaniard played 90 minutes against both Newcastle and Burnley before United. If he were to be rested properly, David Silva could offer much more to this City team.

One replacement for Silva in the left-sided midfield role is his Portuguese namesake Bernardo Silva. The 25-year-old has been one of City’s signings of the decade after his £43 million acquisition in 2017. However, last season was when he came on his own. Bernardo not only played an all-important role in City’s domestic exploits but also won the inaugural UEFA Nations League with Portugal bagging the Player of the Tournament award. However, he has been subpar at the right-wing position this season. Like David Silva, his ball retention and recovery patterns have faltered, and his attacking productivity has also taken a hit.

Riyad Mahrez has been in excellent form for City over the past month
Riyad Mahrez has been in excellent form for City over the past month

Guardiola’s stubbornness to put Bernardo on the wing despite him being a more centrally-suited player has continually raised eyebrows. This has also hampered Riyad Mahrez’s playing time, who is not only an out-and-out right-winger but has also been in red-hot form for City this season. Guardiola needs to address the fact that David Silva cannot start every game and that Bernardo Silva’s natural position is in the middle of the park, only then can he get the best out of them.

#3 Liabilities at left-back

Benjamin Mendy has failed to live up to his price-tag in what is his third season at Manchester City
Benjamin Mendy has failed to live up to his price-tag in what is his third season at Manchester City

Manchester City’s left-back position has been consistently up for debate since Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016. The incoming Bayern Munich manager had Gael Clichy and Aleksander Kolarov at his disposal, both excellent servants for the club, however, in their thirties. The duo could not match their new manager’s standards of playing with Guardiola often deploying Fernandinho at left-back. At the end of the season, however, the City hierarchy understood that it was time to bring in fresh blood.

Benjamin Mendy moved to the Etihad on a then world-record transfer fee for a defender after an excellent season with Monaco winning the Ligue 1 and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. However, the Frenchman suffered a cruel cruciate ligament injury which ruled him out of almost the entire season. He has since then been a victim of multiple injury problems, which prevented him from playing a crucial role in City’s back-to-back title-winning campaigns.

Central midfielder Fabian Delph, who struggled to thrive among the City superstars, bagged a role at left-back and made it his own in the 2017/18 season. However, after making several high-profile errors last season, the Englishman played second-fiddle to another makeshift-left-back in Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The Ukrainian youngster is a natural attacking midfielder, and therefore is not the cleanest defender. However, he has done a decent job for Guardiola and has somewhat become his first-choice at the left-back position.

Angelino was one of the worst performers on Saturday against Manchester United
Angelino was one of the worst performers on Saturday against Manchester United

The club bought back homegrown defender Angelino from PSV Eindhoven at the start of this season given Mendy’s injury record. However, the 22-year-old has only shown his rawness and rash decision-making in the last few games. Against United, Angelino was all over the place. Though he showed an effective attacking instinct, he was dreadful defensively. Zinchenko is still nursing a knee injury while Mendy has been atrocious whenever he has played this season. Joao Cancelo, another summer signing, can also play at left-back, but he has to constantly rotate with Kyle Walker given the number of games City play.

There’s no doubt that Manchester City have had a serious dearth of world-class left-backs in the past decade or so and seeing the likes of Andy Robertson making headlines for Liverpool each week, it looks like Guardiola will have to resort to the transfer window once again.

#2 Reluctance to play Phil Foden

Phil Foden has been one of Manchester City's brightest youth prospects in recent times
Phil Foden has been one of Manchester City's brightest youth prospects in recent times

A few months back, Pep Guardiola stated that 18-year-old Phil Foden was the “most talented player” he’s ever seen. That is some statement coming from a manager who has witnessed a certain Lionel Messi in his blossoming years. However, the Manchester City boss has not backed up his remark as Foden has only featured for the Blues for a mere 83 minutes in the league this season across 7 appearances.

Although the teenager has started two Champions League and Carabao Cup games each, those matches were barely testing for City. Guardiola, when asked about Foden’s lack of playing time, has often given City’s illustrious midfield of David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne as the reason he is bottom in the pecking order. But why claim he is “ready” to be a starter in this team when all City fans get to see are pointless 10-minute cameos.

Club captain David Silva is in his last season at the Etihad and at 33 years, he can’t play every game. Ilkay Gundogan has been impressive at times for City this season, however, he has been more effective as a regista rather than in front of Rodri. Ideally, City fans would love to see Bernardo Silva more centrally but the Portuguese has often been shoehorned into the right-wing. All of this screams for Phil Foden to start at least some league games. The England U21 is not only passionate and dexterous but also extremely good on the ball. He has an incredible passing range, immaculate vision and also an eye for goals.

Pep Guardiola is yet to give Phil Foden a Premier League start this season
Pep Guardiola is yet to give Phil Foden a Premier League start this season

At just 18, Foden has already won an U-17 FIFA World Cup, two Premier League titles, two Carabao Cups, two Community Shields and an FA Cup, most of it with a City team filled with superstars. With the Champions now 14 points behind Liverpool and the league now almost a formality, Guardiola needs to reignite this City team, and starting Phil Foden will do just that.

#1 Centre-back conundrum

Aymeric Laporte's knee injury suffered against Brighton will keep him out until February
Aymeric Laporte's knee injury suffered against Brighton will keep him out until February

Manchester City have scored 44 goals after 16 games this season, one less than last season’s tally at the same stage. However, they have let in 10 more goals in the same process. This probably gives us a clue as to what City’s biggest weakness is currently; their central defense.

Perhaps, Aymeric Laporte’s long-term knee injury played a key role in the team’s downfall at the back, but the club still has two very able centre-backs in John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, both of who played crucial roles in City’s 17/18 'centurion' season.

Laporte has, without a doubt, been City’s principle defender since his arrival in January last year. The Frenchman has been a revelation for Guardiola and City, equivalent to what Virgil van Dijk has been for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool. Club captain Vincent Kompany, who formed an excellent relationship with Laporte when fit, announced his farewell in the summer, leaving a huge void at defense.

Kompany’s leadership skills and passion for the club was unmatched and Guardiola should have known that a potential setback to Laporte could have serious implications at the back for City. However, the former Barcelona manager decided not go for a centre-back in the summer, claiming that Fernandinho could be a handy alternative if needed.

Vincent Kompany's departure and Stones and Otamendi's failings have hurt City defensively
Vincent Kompany's departure and Stones and Otamendi's failings have hurt City defensively

The Brazilian was called into centre-back action in September following Laporte’s injury but greatly excelled in his new role. However, both Stones and Otamendi have been extremely subpar. The duo have had injury problems of their own, and have constantly made errors in judgement costing the team goals. If they can step up and regain their form, Fernandinho could might as well slot in at defensive-midfield again, a position he has been absolutely unplayable at for City in recent years.

Another centre-back alternative is 18-year-old Eric Garcia, who promises to be a potent option for City. The Spain U21 international is a prototype Guardiola defender, excellent on the ball and an immaculate passer. He’s hardly put a foot wrong whenever he’s played for City and looks absolutely destined to be a big part of the club in the future. He has also captained Spain's youth teams and is currently the only 18-year-old in the U21 side. John Stones’ injury against United on Saturday could be a blessing in disguise for young Garcia, who would look to start in upcoming dead-rubber Champions League game away to Dinamo Zagreb.

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Edited by A. Ayush Chatterjee