Pep Guardiola is in uncharted waters for the first time in his managerial career.
Manchester City, the team that won the Premier League last season with a blend of dominance and precision, now look a shadow of their former selves.
Nine defeats in their last 12 matches is an extraordinary fall from grace. From leading the Premier League unbeaten in October to sitting seventh at Christmas, City’s decline has raised serious questions.
Guardiola has never faced such prolonged adversity. His teams, whether at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or City, have always been built to dominate.
But the cracks are now glaring, and this raises a crucial question – is this just a rough patch or the beginning of the end for a side that rewrote the record books just two seasons ago with a historic treble?
The issues go beyond injuries, although losing Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Ruben Dias has undoubtedly taken its toll.
Ageing legs in the squad are becoming harder to ignore. Kyle Walker is visibly struggling, and even Erling Braut Haaland has faltered, scoring just three goals in his last 12 league appearances.
The recruitment strategy has also come under scrutiny. Players such as Mateo Kovacic have failed to fill the gaps left by key departures or declining performances.
City’s midfield – once the envy of Europe – lacks the dynamism needed to control games, exposing the defence to relentless pressure.
There is also the psychological toll. Many of these players have spent years at the pinnacle of English and European football, and sustaining Guardiola’s relentless intensity is no small feat.
Mental and physical exhaustion seems to have caught up with the squad, and the hunger that drove them to past successes appears to be waning.
Guardiola seems unsure of how to reverse the slide. He has never managed a team in transition or overseen a major rebuild during his career.
For a manager who thrives on precision and control, this level of unpredictability is unfamiliar territory.
City’s current slump is testing Guardiola like never before. Whether this is a temporary setback or the end of an era will be determined in the coming months.
For the first time in years, Man City’s dominance no longer feels inevitable.
