After being engulfed by failure, the four-time Premier League champions’ confidence seems to have hit rock bottom.
In recent years, Manchester City’s dominance was marked by their aggressive football, tearing apart opponents and dismantling defenses. But now, they are almost unrecognizable. After being overwhelmed by failure, the team’s confidence appears to be at an all-time low.
In their most recent Premier League match on Saturday night, City suffered a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, with them being the second-best team for most of the match. After falling behind to a goal from John Duran, City conceded a second in the second half from Morgan Rogers. Phil Foden managed to score a late goal, but it was too little, too late.
As the losses pile up, manager Pep Guardiola’s frustration is growing. However, as a leader, he knows he can’t let it show. To revive the team’s crumbling confidence, the Spanish coach is focusing on staying positive.
“We need to think positively, and I have complete faith in the players. Many of them are determined to get the team back on track. We have to find a way forward, step by step, and soon, the path will become clearer,” said Guardiola.
This marks City’s third consecutive failure to win a league match at Villa Park. After drawing 1-1 in 2022, they lost 1-0 to Villa in December last year.
In the Premier League, City has now lost two consecutive matches, with six defeats in their last eight games. They’ve won only one, with the other being a draw.
Erling Haaland, who became the team’s centerpiece since joining two seasons ago, is also struggling to find his form. Against Villa, he was unrecognizable, failing to be a threat at any point during the match.
After the game, the 24-year-old Norwegian star didn’t hesitate to criticize himself.
“First, I’ll focus on myself. I haven’t been fulfilling my role properly for a while now. Even when I’ve had chances, I haven’t taken them. I need to do better. I haven’t been playing well recently.”
“Of course, our confidence isn’t at its best. We know how crucial confidence is, and it affects everyone. It’s like that, we have to move forward, and no matter how tough the situation is, we must remain positive.”
As the disappointment grows, City has dropped another place in the league table. With 27 points from 17 matches, they now sit in sixth place, one point behind fifth-place Villa.
They are already 9 points behind leaders Liverpool, though Liverpool has played two fewer matches. In this context, it seems that defending the title is now beyond City’s reach. Just a few days ago, even Guardiola refused to think about the title race.
After the disjointed, disorganized performance at Villa Park, Guardiola gave the players two days off. He believes the team’s ongoing struggles aren’t due to tactical issues or a lack of ability but are entirely mental. If they can overcome those mental barriers and regain their old belief, Manchester City will return to their former self.
