Manchester City’s miserable run of form continued, as they lost 4-0 at home to Tottenham to extend their run of defeats to 5 games.
The pre-match discussion centered around Pep Guardiola’s new contract and the potential lift that the news would bring to players and fans.
Rodri also showed off his Ballon d’Or pre-game to really set the mood for what was to be a joyous occasion. In the end, it was not to be.
Here are 5 things we learnt from City’s latest defeat.
1. Gundogan is finished
The 34-year-old returned from Barcelona to enormous fanfare but his comeback has been a disaster. He has hardly played well and has been a shadow of his former self.
He was asked to sit deep and dictate play here, but failed to impose himself on proceedings and offered nothing defensively.
2. Maddison needs consistency
James Maddison scored two well-taken goals to set the tone for Spurs’ win and the 28-year-old looked super sharp on his return to the starting XI.
Maddison has had a career blighted by inconsistencies, but this is what he can produce when he is fit and in the mood.
He has the talent but the consistency is lacking, and Ange Postecoglu must find a way to bring him to that level.
3. Haaland needs a break
Man City and Pep Guardiola’s decision to go with Erling Haaland as the only recognized striker for this season was always going to backfire.
Guardiola sanctioned the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, and while Haaland started like a house on fire, his output has dried up in recent weeks.
The 25-year-old has now scored just once in his last 6 games for City, and he surely deserves a rest from playing twice a week.
4. Guardiola has another rebuild on hand
The likes of Kevin De Bruyne (33), Kyle Walker (34), Gundogan (34), and even players like Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish need to be phased out.
Guardiola must start planning for the transition as City look to the future.
5. Title race over?
Liverpool play Southampton Sunday and a win will take them 8 points clear at the top. While that is not an insurmountable lead, City are unlikely to produce the consistency required to take advantage of any slip-ups.
Rodri’s absence and De Bruyne’s constant injuries mean the champions lack any real tempo-setters or creative geniuses to unlock defences, and as long as they continue to labour through games, I’m afraid to say there will be no five-in-a-row for Manchester City.
