“I Don’t Know If It’s a Mental Thing”
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side finds itself in turmoil after a shocking 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League. Labelled as “fragile,” “weak,” and “frail,” City squandered a commanding 3-0 lead at the Etihad Stadium, raising questions about their defensive reliability.
Instead of heading to Liverpool on the back of a morale-boosting victory, the defending Premier League champions face their title rivals at Anfield with more scrutiny over their defensive form. The draw marked the sixth consecutive match across all competitions in which City conceded two or more goals—a feat not seen since May 1963.
City’s inability to close out games has become alarming. When Erling Haaland made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute, the hosts appeared poised to return to winning ways after five straight defeats. However, defensive lapses allowed Feyenoord to mount a comeback, leaving the home fans booing at full time.
“They look weak, they look light, they look frail,” said former England captain Alan Shearer, who was present at the Etihad for Amazon Prime’s coverage. “Even with two minutes to go and 3-2 up, they take a quick free-kick. Why? Kill the game. They were in such a comfortable position.”
City’s defensive record is staggering, having last kept a clean sheet on 26 October in a narrow 1-0 win over struggling Southampton. Since then, they have leaked 17 goals in six matches—a shocking statistic given Guardiola’s reputation for building solid defensive foundations.
“I don’t know if it is a mental thing,” Guardiola admitted, visibly frustrated. “The game was fine at 3-0, but we conceded a lot of goals because we were not stable. The situation is what it is. At this level, we can’t give away goals like that.”
Struggling to Progress in Europe
City’s defensive frailties extend to their Champions League campaign, where they now face the possibility of a two-legged playoff in February to progress to the last 16. Currently sitting 15th in their group after Tuesday’s draw, City must finish in the top eight to earn automatic passage but could slip further after Wednesday’s matches.
Tough fixtures against Juventus (11 December) and Paris St-Germain (22 January) loom large, while a January 29 home game against Club Brugge offers a glimmer of hope. Guardiola remains focused on the immediate challenges: “We have to recover and prepare for the next game. If we’re not able to win games like today, it’s difficult to move forward.”
City Missing “Vocal Leader”
One of City’s key summer signings, Josko Gvardiol, has come under scrutiny for his performances. The £77 million defender from RB Leipzig struggled in a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham and was culpable for two goals against Feyenoord. A misplaced backpass gifted Anis Hadj Moussa Feyenoord’s first goal, while another error led to Santiago Gimenez’s equalizer.
Former England winger Andros Townsend described Gvardiol’s mistakes as “comical defensive errors” that epitomize City’s current struggles. “We have never seen defensive frailties like this from Manchester City before. They were cruising, and all their hard work was undone,” Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Former City player Gael Clichy believes the absence of a “vocal leader” is hurting the team. “You cannot continue making individual mistakes,” Clichy said. “They are missing a vocal leader, a strong presence at the back.”
Guardiola, however, defended Gvardiol: “He will learn. He was the best player on the pitch, and it would be wrong to single him out. He is a fantastic player and needs our support more than ever.”
Looking Ahead
As City prepare for a crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday, their defensive woes have become a glaring issue. Guardiola’s team must rediscover their stability at the back if they are to maintain their title challenge and progress in Europe. For now, the pressure mounts as the champions search for answers.
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