The Worst City Side Under Guardiola on Paper?

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It comes as a little shock that Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, capitulates and loses 3-2 to an injury-ravaged Real Madrid on their own turf. When they ship five goals at the Emirates to an Arsenal side with injury issues in the forward positions, it’s clear something isn’t quite right. 

For a long time, football fans with Man City tickets have become accustomed to Guardiola’s juggernauts churning out win after win. There are very rarely major problems within the camp. 

Right now, they look in disarray. City’s defeat to Madrid leaves them with a mountain to climb and lagging in the Premier League. 

Dominance 

The Sky Blues have been completely dominant since Guardiola arrived in 2016 – winning 15 trophies in nine seasons. 

But is this the worst Man City team we have seen under the Spaniard? Rodri’s absence can’t be underestimated and has clearly had an effect, but right now, there seems to be an even deeper-rooted problem at the club. 

Remarkably, since the start of November, no team has conceded more goals across all competitions than Man City from sides in Europe’s top-five leagues (44 in 23 games). 

Only a chaotic Tottenham can claim to concede the same amount, and even that has come in fewer games (44 in 25 games). This is an all-around simply baffling statistic. 

Look at the numbers behind Man City’s woes to see if this is the worst team we’ve ever seen under the great Guardiola’s stewardship.

Supporters of other Premier League clubs have long tried to manufacture reasons for a Man City slump or drop in form. Still, any adversity Guardiola’s team faces usually gets shrugged off with little impact. 

When Guardiola first arrived at City, people questioned whether his ‘tiki-taka’ style of football was suited to the Premier League – Man City were soon churning out trophies on English shores. 

When Man City had no striker before signing Erling Haaland, people said you couldn’t win a league without a recognised centre-forward – Phil Foden, İlkay Gündogan and Raheem Sterling chipped in, and City won the Premier League. 

When it was announced that Kevin De Bruyne was injured and would miss around half of last season, people claimed that could be the boost for Arsenal or Liverpool to wrestle the title away from the Sky Blues—Man City made it five titles in a row. But right now, Guardiola’s team finally appears rattled. 

Defensive Problems 

Man City have already lost as many games this season as they have in a single campaign since Guardiola joined the club in 2016. 

The Sky Blues have lost 31.6% of their matches this term—numbers that are alien to this team under the Spaniard. 

Their previous highest number of losses came in the 2019/20 campaign, when City lost the league title to Liverpool and lost 12 matches. 

But that came from a total of 58 matches. Just 38 games into the season, Guardiola’s team have equalled that and lost more than they did in all of his other seven seasons at the club. 

As we can see above, Man City’s leaky defence has been a big part of their underwhelming form this season. They have already conceded 63 goals at a rate of 1.66 goals conceded per game. In the 2020/21 season, they conceded just 42 goals across the entire campaign. 

Even if we look at the previous worst defensive season under Guardiola (last season), they still only conceded 1.12 goals per game, which is significantly better than this campaign. Stopping conceding and giving away so many chances will surely be pivotal to any success Man City can salvage this season. Still, Rodri-less, they will have to start improving results quickly if they want to continue their trophy-glittered run.

Legal Woes Continue to Hurt City 

Away from the field, the regulars with Man City tickets are uncovering the legal battle the club will have to face in the coming months. They also understand the consequences of such actions, which will tarnish the club’s reputation. 

Legal Verdict Development

Manchester City have been warned they could be given a huge point deduction as the club await the verdict of their legal battle with the Premier League. In February 2023, the Premier League charged its champions with 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations.

These include accusations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information and failed to cooperate with investigations spanning nine seasons (2009/10 to 2017/18). Manchester City denied any wrongdoing, so they looked to prove their innocence in front of an independent panel.

The case—which was heard in private at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London—concluded late last year. A three-man panel has been reviewing the evidence before it delivers a final verdict in the coming months.

If City is found guilty, it can expect a financial penalty or a point deduction. The independent commission—which heard the charges between September and December—also has the power to strip titles from Pep Guardiola’s side.

Nevertheless, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has addressed the potential punishments. 

 “It has to be a points deduction – if found guilty. We are looking at a points deduction somewhere between 60 to 100 points.”

Maguire added: “The other thing that would happen is that the board of directors at Manchester City effectively would be proven to be liars and misrepresenting the state of the football club to the authorities.

“I don’t see how they can keep their jobs. Certainly, we saw in the case of Juventus, who did something similar [to what City is charged with] that the whole board of directors had to resign.”

In August, Guardiola was delighted to hear that a hearing start date had finally been agreed upon. Speaking to reporters, he said: “I am happy it starts soon, and hopefully, it finishes soon for the benefit of all of us.

“Especially for the club but for all the other Premier League clubs, like for all the people that don’t wait for the sentence. I wish from deep in my heart to go to the trial, the independent panel – and I say it again, independent panel – and as soon as possible release what happened, and we will accept like always we have done.”

Guardiola replied when asked if he was worried whether the situation could distract his players, “No, we have been talking about that for three or four years.”

In February this year, Guardiola suggested that a final verdict would be announced in March. The City boss told reporters, “In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far.”

What Do the Fans Think? 

Over the last few months, several loyal fans, streamers, and football content creators have voiced their opinions on the matter, with most football creators adding that City should be held responsible on all 115 counts. 

Some fans with Man City tickets have also forwarded the notion that if something drastic happens, the club will also fight back with a countersue against the Premier League, and it could be months before they see a final verdict. 

In the grand scheme, a verdict that sees Manchester City drop 50-60 points and get relegated from the Premier League would also jeopardise the league, with several negative implications. 

So, most fans anticipate that there will be a middle ground and amicable solution.

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