WE were so good today, so, so good. This is typically Pep Guardiola’s stock take whenever his Manchester City side falls below the extraordinary standards they have normalised in recent years and this sugar-coating of the truth is almost always accompanied by a steely gaze that dares any interviewer to disagree with him.
Frankly, at times this incessant positive spin can get a touch exasperating, even if it is designed to curtail any criticism of his players, an entitlement Guardiola regards as being his and his alone. Before our very eyes we have just seen a side that reimagined English football for the better across two seasons, averaging 99 points in the process, struggle and fail to break down an inferior foe; appearing to all the world as being clean out of ideas and what is the response? An erroneous claim of excellence.
It was telling then that following another underwhelming display at the weekend – this time away to West Ham and once again against a side that was petrified throughout of this once mighty beast barest its teeth – the Catalan let slip a tacit admission. “We are still in the process to get our best moment,” he said, his frustration evident.
Yet even this revealing concession didn’t go far enough. We can assume Guardiola was referring exclusively to the early stages of this present term that has been thrown into complete disarray by Covid and a succession of injuries but even if we keep to these parameters it should be noted that a disappointing display at the London Stadium was preceded just a week earlier by an exemplary win over Arsenal. Against the Gunners the City coach pulled off a tactical masterclass and his team executed it to near-perfection. That was a ‘best moment’.
Broadening our assessment and taking in the entirety of City’s gradual decline we also find plenty of other examples of sheer brilliance. In the same Champions League campaign that saw the Blues apathetically and pathetically exit to Lyon, they mesmerized Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. In the same league season that ultimately left them trailing Liverpool by 18 points and failing to string together more than five games without tasting defeat City managed to pulverise and bamboozle opponents on many occasions. Ten times they won out by four or more goals and let’s not forget that one such bombardment was at the expense of the champions.
The problem therefore is not that City struggle to realise their full potential anymore: it’s that these best moments that you used to be able to set your clock by, are now fleeting and sporadic and too often undermined soon after by an absolute horror show. Put another way, no matter the circumstances, or who the opposition is, you just never know which Manchester City you’re going to get anymore.
The reasons for this are multifarious and to an extent misfortune has played its part. City have suffered twelve separate injuries this season and we’re only a few weeks in while last year their decision to not replace Vincent Kompany was cruelly compounded by the long-term absence of Aymeric Laporte. Additionally and crucially, an ACL endured by Leroy Sane deprived them of their chief difference-maker.
If injuries are partly to blame however for City’s regression, then a good chunk too lies at Pep’s door. Where on earth has the emphasis on over-loads gone, not to mention the razor-sharp one-twos on the edge of the box that used to harvest opportunities and goals galore? Now over-lapping full-backs are in vogue but after busting a gut to reach the by-line Kyle Walker will typically halt and play a five-yard pass back to Riyad Mahrez. With the defence now regrouped into an impenetrable carapace the winger’s only choice is to lay it square and all momentum is lost.
Signings are also a root cause. If the conversion of Fernandinho into a centre-back last season wasn’t misguided enough City’s decision to replace the ferreting Brazilian with Rodri proved to be costly and that continues to be the case. For all his good points Rodri’s lack of pace exposes a back-line in desperate need of protection while in possession his slowness in recycling the ball allows passing lanes to be closed off. So again this leads to a square ball. Again this leads to pedestrian predictability where once there was dynamism.
Add in too Guardiola’s contract saga that threatens to further destabilise the club and throw in for good measure a fondness for a midfield double-pivot that sends the fan-base apoplectic – is it any wonder a team that used to be consistently formidable has now become unreliably very good? More so, there are other issues. From the drop-off in intensity when pressing in the final third to a refusal to secure a top class left-back that warrants an article in its own right.
All of which suggests that Sheffield United should fancy their chances at Bramall Lane this Saturday but conversely another of City’s failings point to an away win. For two years the Blues dominated the top flight week in, week out but this past year they have become a reactive force and this is reflected in their ‘best moments’ from last season. An 8-0 demolition of Watford came straight after their demoralising loss at Norwich. An impressive 4-1 victory at Turf Moor followed a dispiriting draw at Newcastle. A traditional stumble at Anfield was immediately rectified by a cohesive bettering of Chelsea. Factor in also the Blades’ woes this season – unquestionably they have been affected by empty stadia more than most – and it’s easy to imagine all of City’s frustrations will be parlayed onto Chris Basham and co.
A win in Yorkshire will temporarily put aside any talk of crisis at Manchester City but the problems will remain. They are problems regarded by optimists as a reset that is dragging its feet. Others however are justifiably asking if this is the beginning of the end for Pep Guardiola’s amazing era.
