Why Man Metropolis’s shock Champions League loss at Bodo/Glimt was very unhealthy information for Pep Guardiola

Manchester Metropolis’s latest troubles continued after a shock 3-1 Champions League loss at Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, a defeat which spells hassle for Pep Guardiola for various causes

Metropolis haven’t any kind in any respect to name upon

Other than victories within the Carabao and FA Cups, extremely Metropolis haven’t gained since scrapping a lucky, late 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on December 27.

Defeat within the Arctic Circle means Guardiola’s facet have now misplaced two video games in a row – they went right down to defeat in Saturday’s Manchester derby as nicely – for the primary time since November.

In the meantime, having ended the yr with eight straight victories, Metropolis have since gained solely two out of their subsequent seven matches for the primary time since December 2024 and January 2025.

“This is a group seemingly short on confidence,” says Sky Sports activities Information reporter Ben Ransom. “For the reason that flip of the yr it has been fairly depressing, definitely within the Premier League.

“They haven’t won in four in the league. Three consecutive draws were followed by that pretty abject defeat at Man Utd, which will have really hurt.”

And whereas no person is asking this a disaster, particularly as Metropolis might nonetheless, not less than in principle, win the Quadruple, they do instantly look quick in each a part of the sphere.

Metropolis’s tough January:

Jan 1 – 0-0 draw at Sunderland within the Premier League.

Jan 4 – 1-1 draw at house to Chelsea within the Premier League.

Jan 7 – 1-1 draw at house to Brighton within the Premier League.

Jan 10 – 10-1 win over Exeter within the FA Cup.

Jan 13 – 2-0 win at Newcastle within the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

Jan 17 – 0-2 defeat at Manchester United within the Premier League.

Jan 20 – 1-3 defeat at Bodo/Glimt within the Champions League.

Wanting choices and weak on the again

As in Saturday’s Manchester derby defeat at Outdated Trafford, Metropolis as soon as once more seemed all at sea on the again on the Aspmyra Stadion, particularly within the coronary heart of their again line the place Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne, who was badly at fault for the hosts’ first two objectives, had been unable to deal with Bodo/Glimt’s pacy ahead duo.

Sure, a youthful Metropolis had been with out 11 senior gamers by way of both sickness, damage, suspension or ineligibility, together with latest new centre-back signing Marc Guehi, in addition to first-choice central defenders Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones.

Nonetheless, the convenience with which the Norwegians – who had by no means even gained a Champions League match earlier than tonight – repeatedly carved by way of their opponents can have shocked Metropolis’s followers and Guardiola absolutely can’t wait handy Guehi his debut in Saturday’s Premier League conflict at house to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Haaland is operating on empty

Guardiola described Erling Haaland, who surprisingly performed the primary half of Metropolis’s 10-1 FA Cup third-round romp towards Exeter Metropolis on January 10, as “exhausted” every week in the past.

Since then, the usually prolific Norway striker has suffered a uncommon embarrassment in his Metropolis profession when being hooked at Outdated Trafford on the weekend.

And Tuesday’s return to his homeland was equally forgettable because the 25-year-old drew one other clean in entrance of objective, together with spurning an enormous likelihood to deliver his facet again into the sport simply earlier than half-time when unusually firing extensive of the gaping objective.

In consequence, Haaland is now with out a objective from open play for a month, whereas he solely has one penalty in his final eight encounters and if Metropolis are to have any likelihood of getting their stuttering season again on observe, then they want their most important man to start out scoring once more and quick.

February fixture congestion on the playing cards?

Because it stands, Metropolis have slipped right down to seventh place within the Champions League standings.

However their place within the high eight is now very weak following tonight’s shock defeat and it might get even worse after Wednesday night time’s outcomes,

Have been they to drop out of the highest eight, and Metropolis’s last group recreation is at house to Galatasaray subsequent Wednesday, it could imply a double header Champions League playoff and an ultra-congested February fixture listing.

And that’s the final thing Guardiola’s already-stretched facet wants proper now as they proceed to battle on all 4 fronts.

“What the Bodo/Glimt defeat does do is it adds a jeopardy to this Champions League campaign and it means that from a position of relative strength in that top eight, they may well start next week’s final matchday outside the top eight, and perhaps they might need a few favours from elsewhere,” says Ransom.

“Given how tough this schedule has been, no one at City will want an extra two fixtures in the playoffs.”

This is how Metropolis’s fixture listing in February might look in the event that they end out of the highest eight:

• February 1 – Tottenham (a), Premier League
• February 4 – Newcastle (h) – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg
• February 7 – Liverpool (a), Premier League
• February 11 – Fulham (h), Premier League
• February 14 – Salford – FA Cup fourth spherical
• *February 17 or 18 – Play-off first leg, Champions League
• February 21 – Newcastle (h), Premier League
• *February 24 or 25 – Play-off second leg, Champions League
• February 28 – Leeds (a), Premier League

Automated Champions League qualification in jeopardy

Whereas issues usually are not trying fairly as unhealthy as final season, when Metropolis limped to a lowly end of twenty second place within the new-look Champions League standings – for which they had been handed a horror knockout section playoff towards then holders Actual Madrid, which they misplaced – they’re now in peril of slipping out of the highest eight wanted to keep away from such a state of affairs taking place once more.

Final season 16 factors had been required to get into the highest eight, which might imply Metropolis – presently on 13 factors – must win their last recreation at house to Galatasaray subsequent week to achieve that whole.

However with out key midfielder Rodri now after his ill-disciplined sending-off on Tuesday and no method to plug the gaping gaps in central defence, there aren’t any ensures Guardiola’s group will be capable of get previous the Turkish champions, who having already crushed Liverpool even have their eye on a top-eight end.

Your views: ‘Pep has run his race at Metropolis’

Can Guardiola flip tings round at Man Metropolis? He are a variety your views…

Marko: I believe Pep has run his race, similar to a number of of the Metropolis gamers. He can not seem to regulate tactically these previous few years.

James Jones: I do not assume he can flip it round. It is recreation over. I believe the gamers know he is leaving quickly and have given up. Unhappy occasions forward.

Glen: Metropolis’s golden interval is lastly coming to an finish. Too many adjustments over the past 12 months, half the gamers being reverted in positions they’ve by no means performed earlier than. Is Pep the GOAT? Most likely. Unsackable? By no means.

Charlesgalo05: Pep has run out of concepts. He retains favouring gamers who’re out of shape and it is costing us massive time.

Mike: Now we have high class gamers even with out the accidents. Our downside is the ways – sluggish build-ups give each opponent the prospect to organise the stable defence, after which once we lose the ball they chip over us and have a transparent run for objective. Pep ought to go – we have had the most effective of him.

Gaz15: He is seemed drained this previous 6 to 12 months. I believe he will likely be passed by the top of the season, newest.

Daniel Wilde: I believe Pep will flip it round at Metropolis and go on to win the Carabao and FA Cups, and hopefully Champions League.