Manchester City are enduring a shocking run of form, currently sitting in “relegation form” territory with just four points from their last eight games. Pep Guardiola has vowed to turn things around after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, which left the defending champions struggling to find their rhythm.
City’s Form Table Woes
City’s recent form is alarming, placing them joint bottom of the form table alongside Southampton over the past eight matches. Both teams have managed only four points, with one win, one draw, and six defeats.
Even Wolves, who recently sacked manager Gary O’Neil and appointed Vitor Pereira, have doubled City’s points during the same period despite playing one game less. Southampton, under new manager Ivan Juric, could overtake City in form if they secure a point against Fulham on Sunday.
Injury Crisis Compounds Issues
Guardiola’s squad has been hit hard by injuries. Key players like Ederson, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, and long-term absentee Rodri were unavailable for the Villa clash. This left Guardiola fielding a half-fit Manuel Akanji and John Stones.
“It depends on us,” Guardiola said post-match. “The solution is bringing the players back. We have just one central defender fit, that is difficult.”
However, injuries alone do not explain City’s poor form. Mistakes like Josko Gvardiol’s early error against Villa and Jack Grealish’s continued struggles to make an impact are indicative of deeper issues.
Confidence at an All-Time Low
City’s talismanic striker Erling Haaland admitted that confidence within the squad is waning.
“Of course, [confidence levels are] not the best,” Haaland told TNT Sports. “We know how important confidence is, and you can see that it affects every human being.”
Haaland’s stats against Villa underline City’s struggles. The Norwegian managed just 18 touches in the game, the fewest of any starting player, and had only one shot on target. Despite scoring 13 Premier League goals this season, he has netted just twice in City’s last eight games.
Guardiola Remains Positive
Guardiola refused to criticise his star striker, instead focusing on the need for the team to deliver better opportunities.
“Without him, we would be even worse,” Guardiola said. “He needs to have the balls delivered in the right spots, but he will fight for the next one.”
The Spaniard remains optimistic, insisting that City can rediscover their form. “We have to think positive, and I have incredible trust in the guys. We have to find a way, step by step, sooner or later, to find a way back,” Guardiola said.
Villa’s Exploitation of City’s Frailties
Aston Villa’s manager Unai Emery highlighted City’s lack of confidence after the match. “Manchester City are a little bit under the confidence they have normally,” he said. “Through those circumstances, they were feeling worse.”
Villa’s win has bolstered their top-four hopes, while City’s struggles have cast doubt over their chances of defending their Premier League title.
External Links for Context
- Learn more about Aston Villa’s resurgence under Unai Emery.
- Check out the latest Premier League standings.
- Follow Manchester City’s fixture updates as they aim to recover from their slump.
