Manchester City’s dismal form continued with a 2-0 defeat to Juventus last night, leaving their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
The loss marked their seventh in ten matches across all competitions, a rut that has raised questions about Pep Guardiola’s ability to steer his team back on course.
City are now 22nd in the Champions League table with two group-stage matches remaining.
Automatic qualification for the knockout phase is all but out of reach, and a tough away trip to Paris Saint-Germain looms before a home clash with Club Brugge.
Guardiola admitted his side must now focus on securing a play-off spot.
Ilkay Gundogan, back at the club after a brief stint with Barcelona, suggested City’s struggles stemmed from low confidence and poor decision-making in the key moments.
“In crucial situations, we’re always doing the wrong things,” he said.
However, Guardiola was quick to push back, insisting that City’s performance against Juventus showed improvement.
“We played really good,” he said. “We missed the final action, but the effort was there. It’s tough in Europe.”
City’s current struggles have drawn attention to Guardiola’s lack of experience in navigating such a prolonged downturn.
Pundits have questioned whether Guardiola, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest managers, can find a way out.
Guardiola’s defensive stance has done little to quell the growing criticism. Reflecting on their barren run, he remained optimistic about the lessons City could learn.
“When we turn this around, we’ll appreciate this period more,” he added. “I question myself in good and bad moments. The dressing room is stable, and we stand up.”
Despite his defiance, the numbers paint a troubling picture. City have won just one of their last ten matches and have lost six of their last seven away fixtures.
With Paris Saint-Germain also desperate for points, City’s trip to the French capital could determine their European fate.
The questions surrounding Guardiola’s ability to adapt are unlikely to fade anytime soon.
For a manager celebrated for innovation and dominance, this period has exposed vulnerabilities that few people expected.
Whether Guardiola can find the answers remains to be seen, but time is running out.
