Can Man City Turn Around Its Fortunes?
Last updated: December 26, 2024
Under Pep Guardiola, Man City has been one of the biggest forces in football, both at home in the EPL, and across Europe. However, the 2024/2025 season has seen a dip in form that no one could have expected when the first matches kicked off. The club has seen a run of poor form that no one thought possible. What looked like an initial dip in confidence now looks to have developed into complete tactical stagnation and everyone can see the cracks that are continuing to widen. The question being asked is if it’s still possible for Man City to turn this season around? Can the club finish with a respectable finish, or are things too far gone? Let’s take a look.
A Loss of Confidence and Fear Factor
It’s fair to say that, over recent years, Man City came across as pretty much invincible. The thought of facing Man City was enough to unnerve the opposition before a match even kicked off. Other teams were in fear of the club, knowing that Pep had a squad that was full of world class players and that he was one of the best tacticians ever.
However, that fear factor now seems to be a distant memory. Recent matches, such as the dreadful performance against Aston Villa, have shown a team that is now struggling with its own confidence. There are clear simple errors when in possession, a lack of any incisive attacking play, and a deep vulnerability to counter-attacks. With this combination, there’s little wonder that the club’s position is so woeful.
There are whispers that the club’s players are all in a state of fragility as they await the decisions of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions. These top players know that this could see the club relegated and it makes sense that they may be struggling to focus on current form. Speculation is rife amongst bettors, on platforms such as Sportsbet io, as they wager on whether or not Pep will remain in place when the sanctions are revealed.
An Aging Squad or Tactical Stagnation?
No matter what may be weighing on the manager’s and player’s minds, it’s clear that there are tactical issues playing a part here. Guardiola has long been known for creating teams that have the ability to dominate possession and press like no other can. However, this season has seen a different story. Team after team have found it easy to bypass the press and then to exploit City on the break.
It’s also clear that City’s attacking play is now highly predictable. There’s no risk being taken in the final third and players are, instead, going for the safer passes and avoiding bold moves. This is a million miles away from the football that Pep Guardiola is known for.
The currency make up of the team is also a concern for some. When Rodri was absent earlier in the season, this highlights the fact that there was lack of depth in key areas. Then there’s the increasing reliance on ageing players such as De Bruyne and Walker. While there are younger players, such as Foden and Haaland, the overall balance is questionable and a succession plan seems to be lacking.
The Guardiola Question
Pep is highly regarded in the world of football, and is widely seen as one of the best managers of all time. Despite this, he appears to be struggling to guide his team and to inject that level of belief that they need to succeed. There are some suggestions that players may have grown tired of his relentless regime and are now even starting to rebel.
It’s worth noting Guardiola’s body language in all of this. Both on the touch line and during post-match interviews, he seems frustrated and beyond tired. It seems that he has lost his own motivation and, without this returning, it’s hard to see how he can possibly turn City’s fortunes around. The thought that he could be in this situation would’ve been unthinkable just a few months ago, but right now the danger to City, and Pep’s reputation, is very real.
Final Thoughts
No one could have predicted just how bad Man City’s season would have been. The currency struggles act as a reminder that football can change in the blink of an eye and it only takes a handful of errors for there to be serious consequences. When confidence drops, when tactics stagnate, and when external pressures come into play, even the strongest of teams can experience bad times.
Does that spell the end to City’s season? Well, another title now seems out of the question, but that doesn’t mean that a respectable finish is out of reach. If the board, and the fans, keep their faith in Pep, he will show that he is the only man who can turn the club around and get back to winning ways.
