Manchester City suffered their third consecutive Premier League defeat on Saturday morning, losing 2-1 to Aston Villa at Villa Park. The match, which kicked off the 17th round of Premier League action, saw Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers find the net for Villa, with Phil Foden pulling one back late on for City.
The home side began the match with intensity, and within 20 seconds, they were close to taking the lead. Villa's dominance paid off when Duran scored the opener in the 16th minute, converting from an assist by Rogers. Shortly after, Villa doubled their advantage with another goal from Rogers, creating chaos for City’s defense.
This latest defeat amplifies Manchester City's crisis, as the team has now lost nine of their last twelve games across all competitions. They achieved just one win during this stretch, which contrasts sharply with their previous record of one win and one draw over their last 106 matches.
Many have pointed to the team's struggles both physically and mentally as reasons for their poor performance. ESPN commentator Gustavo Zupak remarked, "Os desfalques reduziram as opções do Guardiola, então quem jogou fisicamente caiu de produção..." (The absences reduced Guardiola's options, so those who played physically diminished their performance). It’s clear the squad depth has been tested due to injuries, with key players like Rodri, Ederson, and Nathan Aké missing from the lineup.
Rachel Brown-Finnis, former England goalkeeper, also shared insights on the team’s current state, noting, "O City tem sido suave na defesa e houve muito pouca pressão na bola..." (The City has been soft on defense, and there has been very little pressure on the ball). This assessment highlights the defensive vulnerabilities City has shown this season, raising questions on how they’ll address these issues.
The loss now sees Manchester City sitting sixth, with 27 points, just behind Aston Villa who leapfrogged them to fifth with 28 points. This drop could see City fall to ninth place by the end of the weekend, depending on other results.
Looking forward, City’s next challenge will be against Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, December 26. The Toffees, placing 16th with only one victory from their last seven matches, may seem like the perfect opportunity for City to reverse their fortunes. Regardless, facing any team under the current circumstances would pose its own challenges, especially considering the mounting pressure on Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola himself has spoken on why players like Morgan Rogers left the club after fitting performances, acknowledging the tough competition within the squad. "It was a team who won the treble...Sometimes it’s the right time to give the player a chance," Guardiola stated, reflecting on the club’s high standards and the timing of opportunities for youth talent.
Returning to form will not be easy for Manchester City, who must regroup quickly and find ways to rebuild their confidence and performance levels. With the relentless schedule of fixtures and the pressure mounting, each match could be pivotal as they look to climb back up the Premier League table.
Despite their recent woes, City has the quality to secure results and overturn this rocky spell. All eyes will be on them as they prepare to face Everton, hoping to put the frustrations behind them and turn their season around.
