Manchester City’s Five-Game Losing Streak: Crisis or Just a Blip?
MANCHESTER, England — When does a rough patch turn into a full-blown crisis? That’s the question Manchester City fans are asking after their team’s shocking 4-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. This defeat marks City’s fifth consecutive loss, a streak that has left even the most optimistic supporters scratching their heads.
Coming off the international break, there was hope that City would hit the reset button. With key players returning from injury and Pep Guardiola’s future secured by a new contract, the stage seemed set for a turnaround. Instead, Spurs delivered a masterclass in counter-attacking football, exposing City’s defensive frailties and leaving the reigning champions reeling. A standout performance from Dejan Kulusevski and an uncharacteristically quiet day for Erling Haaland only added to City’s woes.
Uncharted Territory for Guardiola
For Pep Guardiola, this is unfamiliar ground. Never before in his illustrious managerial career has he lost five games in a row. And as Manchester City boss, he’s never suffered three straight Premier League defeats. These are not the kinds of records Guardiola is used to setting.
“When you lose 4-0, there is nothing to say but to congratulate Tottenham,” Guardiola admitted after the game. “We are a bit fragile right now, that is obvious. We struggled to score goals and after when they arrived, they scored. We are playing a little bit in our thoughts, a little bit of negativity, but this is normal.”
City’s struggles were evident from the start. The home crowd was in high spirits, giving Rodri a standing ovation as he displayed his Ballon d’Or trophy. Fans also serenaded Guardiola, celebrating his recent two-year contract extension. For the first 10 minutes, City looked dominant, with Haaland coming close to scoring twice. But then, the wheels came off.
Tottenham’s Ruthless Efficiency
Spurs, who had barely touched the ball in the opening minutes, suddenly sprang to life. Kulusevski’s pinpoint pass set up James Maddison for a close-range volley, giving Tottenham the lead. Maddison, celebrating his 28th birthday, doubled his tally just seven minutes later, thanks to a clever assist from Son Heung-Min. By halftime, City were in disarray.
Guardiola, visibly frustrated, removed his coat in the pouring rain as if to signal his players to roll up their sleeves. But unlike their dramatic comeback against Spurs in January 2023, when they overturned a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2, there was no fightback this time. Pedro Porro added a third goal shortly after halftime, and substitute Brennan Johnson sealed the rout with a fourth in injury time.
This was City’s first home defeat in the Premier League in over two years and their heaviest home loss since a 5-1 drubbing by Arsenal in February 2003. “You don’t come to a place like this thinking it’s going to be as convincing as it was for us,” said Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou. “City test you in every way. We got to a really strong level today. Credit to the lads because I thought they were outstanding.”
Defensive Woes and Midfield Struggles
City’s defensive issues were glaring. They’ve now conceded 14 goals in their last five games, and it could have been worse if not for three excellent saves by Ederson. The absence of Rúben Dias, who has missed the last five games due to injury, has been keenly felt. To make matters worse, John Stones, starting his first Premier League game in over a month, was forced off at halftime.
In midfield, the absence of Rodri and injured understudy Mateo Kovacic left City exposed. The trio of Ilkay Gündogan, Rico Lewis, and Bernardo Silva struggled to cope with Tottenham’s dynamic duo of Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr. Gündogan, in particular, had a night to forget.
What’s Next for City?
City have a chance to stop the bleeding when they face Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. But their next Premier League fixture is a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. “It’s a great game to turn it around, to take three points off the team that’s sat above you,” said Kyle Walker. “But we can’t go out there and do a performance like that [against Tottenham], because we’re going to get walked over there.”
Guardiola remains defiant. “We have to break the results because the victories help us to be more positive and confident, and we have to do it,” he said. “We cannot run away; we have to face it and try to make the next game.”
With Liverpool looming, City have a golden opportunity to silence their critics. But if they falter again, the whispers of a crisis will only grow louder.
Originally Written by: Rob Dawson
