Pep Guardiola’s time at Manchester City is anything but smooth right now. For the first time since 2006, City has lost four consecutive matches across all competitions—a first even for Guardiola.
One of the main reasons behind this slump is the string of injuries to key players. Among them, the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been the biggest blow to the team. City won’t have their star defensive midfielder for the rest of the season, a loss Guardiola has likened to his time at Barcelona without Lionel Messi. Drawing the comparison, Guardiola said that just as Barcelona couldn’t imagine winning a treble without Messi, City faces a similar challenge without Rodri.
Ahead of tonight’s clash against Tottenham, Guardiola shared how much they miss Rodri, saying, “We are playing without Rodri, and we miss him! Think about my time at Barcelona. Lionel Messi was the best player in the team. Could you imagine playing an entire season without Messi? Could you think about winning a treble? I don’t think so.”
For City, however, the immediate challenge isn’t winning trebles or titles—it’s simply returning to winning ways. After 11 matches, City sits second in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool. A loss to Tottenham at home tonight could widen the gap to eight points, making it even tougher for City to stage a comeback in the title race.
Amid this difficult period, there’s some relief for City fans—Guardiola has extended his contract until 2027. The decision, announced on Thursday night, stems from his desire not to leave the team in its current state. Now, the question remains: can the Spanish coach’s renewed commitment inspire a revival for City in the days ahead?
