Manchester City’s Season Spirals: Defensive Woes Exposed in Shocking Draw
For Manchester City fans, Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium was supposed to be a turning point. After enduring five straight defeats, Pep Guardiola’s side looked poised to regain some much-needed confidence against Feyenoord. For 75 minutes, it seemed like they were back on track, cruising toward a comfortable victory. But then, in a stunning collapse, City conceded three goals in the final 15 minutes, turning what should have been a 3-0 win into a 3-3 draw. The result left fans and pundits alike questioning whether this team has what it takes to salvage their season.
“It wasn’t a sixth consecutive defeat,” one observer noted, “but it just felt like one.”
City’s Fragility on Full Display
Feyenoord’s late surge not only cost City two crucial points but also left them scrambling to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League group stage. More immediately, it sets up a daunting trip to Anfield this Sunday to face Premier League leaders Liverpool. Guardiola’s squad, now winless in six games, has conceded seven goals in just four days. The defensive frailty that has plagued them all season was on full display, and Guardiola himself seemed at a loss for words after the match.
“It is not necessary to say anything to [the players], they know it perfectly,” Guardiola said. “It is what it is. It’s difficult to swallow now.”
He added, “We give away especially the first one and after we are not stable enough. The game was good, we played well, we scored three and could have scored more. We are a team who concede few, few goals over these eight or nine years. We cannot close the games. Now we rest one or two days and prepare for Anfield.”
Haaland’s Brilliance Can’t Mask the Cracks
For much of the first half, City looked like a team searching for their identity. The swagger that has defined their dominance in recent years was nowhere to be found. But just before halftime, Erling Haaland stepped up to smash home a penalty, giving City a 1-0 lead and a glimmer of hope. The Norwegian striker, who now boasts 51 goal involvements in the Champions League (a record achieved in just 44 games), added a second goal early in the second half. In between, Ilkay Gündoğan scored with a deflected volley, and City appeared to be cruising at 3-0.
But Guardiola’s decision to substitute key players like Nathan Aké, Phil Foden, and Gündoğan with more than 20 minutes remaining proved costly. The midfield duo of Matheus Nunes and James McAtee struggled to maintain control, and Feyenoord capitalized on the chaos.
Feyenoord’s Stunning Comeback
It started with a goal from Anis Hadj Moussa, which seemed like little more than a consolation. But when substitute Santiago Giménez bundled in a second with eight minutes to go, panic set in for City. The final blow came when Igor Paixão chased down a long ball, forcing goalkeeper Ederson into a disastrous clearance attempt. With the goal wide open, Paixão crossed for Dávid Hancko to head in the equalizer, sending the Feyenoord fans into raptures.
“If you’re from Feyenoord, it was an unbelievable evening,” said coach Brian Priske. “It was a strange game. It was an unbelievable result. For me, they’re still the best team in the world. You always believe, but we knew it was always going to be a difficult game. We don’t usually celebrate draws, but this is a bit special.”
What’s Next for City?
As Feyenoord fans serenaded their former manager Arne Slot—now in charge of Liverpool—with chants of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the focus shifted to Sunday’s clash at Anfield. Slot’s Liverpool side has scored two or more goals in each of their past six games, while City has conceded at least two in each of their past six. Guardiola has already warned that a loss at Anfield could effectively end City’s title hopes, opening up an 11-point gap between the two teams.
“We have to [win], we have to,” Guardiola said. “That is my job. We didn’t lose today. Everybody knows the situation. I don’t have to add absolutely anything. We are going to train [Wednesday], recover and prepare for the next game. Day off and we have two or three days to prepare and go for it.”
Even at this early stage, it feels like City’s season is hanging by a thread. Can Guardiola rally his players in time to turn things around, or will this be the year their dominance finally crumbles?
Originally Written by: Rob Dawson
