Manchester City secured their first Premier League away win since October with a hard-fought 2–0 victory at Leicester City on December 29, 2024. This win was particularly significant as it marked Pep Guardiola's 500th match as manager, allowing the team to break out of its ten-match slump with two consecutive league victories.
Erling Haaland and Savinho were the stars of the match, with Savinho opening the scoring by tapping in from close range after Jamie Vardy's attempt was denied by City's goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega. Although Leicester posed significant threats throughout the game, with Vardy missing several chances, it was Haaland who sealed the win with his header from Savinho's cross in the 74th minute, inflicting Leicester's fourth consecutive Premier League loss.
Guardiola had expressed relief following the victory but emphasized the need for improvement, stating, "It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible things for many years. It is not the best." This win followed just weeks of struggle for City, where they failed to secure any victories across all competitions during November, largely attributed to the absence of Rodri, whose ACL injury disrupted the team's stability.
Despite the positive result against Leicester, City midfielder Bernardo Silva acknowledged the team is currently not contenders for the Premier League title, noting, "Right now, I would say not impossible because in soccer there are no impossibilities, but Man City is completely out of the title race, there’s no question about it." With City sitting sixth on the table with 34 points, they find themselves 12 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
The challenges this season have been compounded by injuries, and Guardiola hinted at potential reinforcements during the January transfer window, focusing on the areas where the team needs help. Notably, Silva reaffirmed, "People always say you don’t win a league until January, but you can lose it, and this season the reality is we've lost it." He emphasized the need for the squad to focus on gaining points and creeping back up the table.
After the victory over Leicester, City also faced West Ham United, where they managed another impressive 4-1 triumph. Haaland netted two goals, but Guardiola remained unsatisfied with the team's overall performance, admitting they were lucky to secure the win and discussing the team's lack of fluidity. "You judge results. Our performance was not good. So when we play good, we know when to play good. The first minutes, they deserved to be 0-1 or 0-2. We were lucky," Guardiola remarked.
His post-match comments also reflected frustrations with the team’s current form, particularly pointing out lapses during defensive transitions. Guardiola's sentiment sends a clear message about the need for improvement, especially as City’s competitors continue to perform well.
Another focal point of this stretch has been Jack Grealish’s plummeting form. Once one of the marquee players, Grealish has struggled to find the net, finishing 2024 without scoring across 32 appearances. Guardiola's comments about Grealish have struck a negative tone, as he asserts the player must demonstrate he deserves to start over the rising Savinho, who has impressed with his contributions recently. Mcinerney from Esteemed Kompany noted, "Guardiola's quotes read really, really negatively toward Grealish," highlighting the pressure facing the Englishman.
With Savinho excelling, Grealish appears to be fighting for his future with City, particularly when Guardiola’s frustrations are evident. Guardiola has been candid, stating the team needs players who demonstrate hunger, drive, and energy, qualities he feels Grealish currently lacks.
Looking forward, the coming weeks will be pivotal for Manchester City as they seek to reaffirm their dominance within the league. Guardiola encapsulated their pursuit, saying, "We are far away from winning the Premier League. We accept there’s already no chance of winning it but we have other things to fight for: FA Cup, top four… and winning games helps." The balance of performance, player morale, and strategic adjustments will be key to their ambitions as they move cautiously toward improving results for the rest of the season.