“I won’t give up, that’s for sure,” mentioned Pep Guardiola previous to his Manchester Metropolis aspect struggling their fourth defeat in a row in opposition to Brighton and Hove Albion earlier than the worldwide break.
It was a tone that has not often been related to the Metropolis boss since arriving in English soccer again in 2016, however that is new-found territory for him.
This run of 4 video games is the longest stretch he has gone with out a win throughout his managerial profession – and it isn’t set to get any simpler.
Metropolis’s quick fixture listing within the Premier League is among the hardest and it couldn’t arrive at a worse time, as Guardiola’s aspect proceed to battle with accidents and confidence.
Metropolis’s run of fixtures
A defeat to Tottenham kick-started the hysteria, as objectives from Timo Werner and Pape Matar Sarr triggered Metropolis to crash out of the Carabao Cup.
They may now be tasked with addressing this droop in opposition to Ange Postecoglou’s workforce, stay on Sky Sports activities, as soon as home motion returns on November 23.
Saturday twenty third November 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
A blockbuster conflict in opposition to league leaders Liverpool, additionally stay on Sky Sports activities, will observe shortly after and Guardiola will hope to have the likes of Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and John Stones again for that recreation on December 1.
Metropolis will then host Nottingham Forest, who’ve been one of many stand-out storylines throughout the early levels of the season given their spectacular begin, on the Etihad Stadium on December 4.
A visit to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace three days later (December 7) seems to be the best fixture on paper, though the Eagles have triggered Metropolis issues lately.
This in fact consists of the shock 2-0 victory away from dwelling again in 2021, which can possible linger within the thoughts of the Metropolis boss if his aspect are in want of a win when the fixture arrives.
Lastly, they are going to end in dramatic vogue by internet hosting Ruben Amorim, who could have been within the job over a month by December 15, and Manchester United – stay on Sky Sports activities.
Their rivals are presently an unknown entity however the worry of shedding the derby will solely mount extra strain on addressing their poor type earlier than a fixture of this magnitude comes round.
The significance of this run laid naked
By way of league place, Metropolis’s run is barely the eighth-hardest fixture listing throughout the subsequent 5 video games.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t keep in mind the membership additionally balancing Champions League matches in opposition to Feyenoord (November 26) and Juventus (December 11), in addition to the added strain that may compound with every fixture.
Greatest level gaps between the leaders and eventual champions after 11 video games
Tottenham, Feyenoord and Liverpool all carry big significance for Metropolis and it isn’t past the realms of risk that this shedding streak extends to seven video games earlier than dealing with Forest.
Liverpool face Southampton of their first fixture after the break and in the event that they go on to safe all three factors and Metropolis lose their first recreation again, it will equal the most important factors hole that has ever been overcome by Premier League champions after 11 video games.
Man Metropolis’s run of fixtures within the Premier League in comparison with Liverpool and Arsenal
If that margin is stretched to 11 factors after dealing with the Reds, the state of affairs could be teetering on untenable.
Why are Metropolis struggling?
Accidents, accidents and accidents.
Winger Jeremy Doku has joined a rising listing of key gamers presently sidelined.
Rodri is the most important absence however in Grealish, Stones, Dias and Oscar Bobb, Guardiola is missing essential depth that he can name upon from the bench.
Solely Everton have made much less substitutions than Metropolis’s tally of 35 to this point this season, which may spotlight why the squad are presently faltering given their lack of contemporary legs.
Guardiola has begun to lean on younger prospects extra regularly, resembling 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey who has began the final two video games within the absence of his injured stars, and may want to take action often sooner or later.
Changing Rodri
One participant that won’t be returning within the close to future is Rodri.
“Now the seasons are getting longer and the [FIFA Club] World Cup ends on July 13, I have in mind to return this year, as a challenge,” mentioned Rodri, talking on COPE.
“I’ve already started walking and I’m feeling better than I thought.”
Manchester Metropolis with and with out Rodri this season
Regardless of the constructive replace, if Metropolis are to deal with their present points, they should discover somebody who can fill the void left by Rodri in midfield instantly.
Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan have been used within the holding position throughout the run of defeats and various candidates could now be thought of.
Stones has beforehand been utilised in midfield and if he’s totally match, might be a viable choice so as to add extra safety to the again 4.
