Manchester City are struggling to find their footing midwinter, and it's not just injuries piling up on a seemingly perennial basis. The club has suffered its zero league win in 2024 just three games into the second half of the season. What is going wrong at the Etihad?
Pep Guardiola seemed bewildered after another lacklustre display that showcased City's inability to affect their fortunes, regardless of what the manager tried. Against Manchester United and Bodø/Glimt, both matches ended in defeats, with 2-0 losses followed by a goalless draw.
A major contributor to these struggles seems to be the continued absence of key players due to injuries. A list of absentees reads like a Who's Who of City's starting XI: Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Nico González, Savinho, Jérémy Doku, Oscar Bobb, Antoine Semenyo, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva.
Guardiola acknowledged the team's shortcomings but blamed many factors beyond his control. With City missing 11 regulars, it's hard to argue with the manager's assertion that a combination of injuries, and possibly even more than that, is weighing on the team.
One player who has been struggling, however, is Phil Foden, one of the most talented young players at City. Substituted mid-game against Bodø/Glimt as well as in the derby defeat, he produced performances less like a top-class midfielder and more akin to his brother Ilkay Foden, known for his creative skills.
Foden's recent form has been somewhat inconsistent. His stats read 10 goals in 30 appearances and four assists this season, but the last time he scored or created a goal was over three weeks ago. With City struggling so badly, Foden must pull himself up to avoid further disappointing performances.
On the bright side, there is some promising news with the arrival of Marc Guéhi, a 25-year-old England defender who has been making waves for his national team and Crystal Palace, leading them to last season's FA Cup win. With Gvardiol and Dias out of action, the young Uzbekistan international could provide a much-needed boost alongside the experienced Guéhi.
While City have their work cut out to get back on track, Guéhi's signing presents an exciting possibility for the future – one that could alleviate some of the pressure on the injured frontline centre-backs.
Pep Guardiola seemed bewildered after another lacklustre display that showcased City's inability to affect their fortunes, regardless of what the manager tried. Against Manchester United and Bodø/Glimt, both matches ended in defeats, with 2-0 losses followed by a goalless draw.
A major contributor to these struggles seems to be the continued absence of key players due to injuries. A list of absentees reads like a Who's Who of City's starting XI: Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Nico González, Savinho, Jérémy Doku, Oscar Bobb, Antoine Semenyo, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva.
Guardiola acknowledged the team's shortcomings but blamed many factors beyond his control. With City missing 11 regulars, it's hard to argue with the manager's assertion that a combination of injuries, and possibly even more than that, is weighing on the team.
One player who has been struggling, however, is Phil Foden, one of the most talented young players at City. Substituted mid-game against Bodø/Glimt as well as in the derby defeat, he produced performances less like a top-class midfielder and more akin to his brother Ilkay Foden, known for his creative skills.
Foden's recent form has been somewhat inconsistent. His stats read 10 goals in 30 appearances and four assists this season, but the last time he scored or created a goal was over three weeks ago. With City struggling so badly, Foden must pull himself up to avoid further disappointing performances.
On the bright side, there is some promising news with the arrival of Marc Guéhi, a 25-year-old England defender who has been making waves for his national team and Crystal Palace, leading them to last season's FA Cup win. With Gvardiol and Dias out of action, the young Uzbekistan international could provide a much-needed boost alongside the experienced Guéhi.
While City have their work cut out to get back on track, Guéhi's signing presents an exciting possibility for the future – one that could alleviate some of the pressure on the injured frontline centre-backs.
. the squad's depth is being tested, and it's not just injuries, but players like foden are expected to step up their game 
. meanwhile, guéhi's arrival could be just what city need – fresh legs and a new dynamic 
. can't wait to see how he'll fit in with the team 
. City's possession-based game is all well and good, but if they can't finish chances or create scoring opportunities, it doesn't matter how many times you press high up the pitch. They're not creating enough clear-cut chances to get out of these results.
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... it's just one of those seasons where nothing seems to be going right. 
... City's struggles don't mean they're losing faith in their manager or players, it just means things aren't clicking yet 
... I still have confidence in Pep to turn it around and get the team back on track 
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i mean, Gvardiol and Dias are out for a while, but do we really need to be playing 11 outfield players? it looks like City are just passing the ball around all day without creating anything 
meanwhile Foden's form is non-existent... ilkay foden could give him some tips on how to create chances 
but honestly, if they can get Guéhi up to speed, that's a game changer 
. The injury crisis is serious, but I think City need to take responsibility for their injuries and not just blame it all on bad luck 
. Maybe they should invest more in the medical staff and sports science team instead of just throwing money at new signings 
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They're just not performing well at all right now 
They've got some super talented players, but even the top ones like Phil Foden aren't doing great lately 
He's just not scoring or creating goals like he used to 
Maybe they need to make some changes and try something new? 
And omg, can we talk about how excited I am for Marc Guéhi?! 
He sounds like a game-changer 
They need a serious shake-up in the squad, maybe some fresh blood to get those players firing again.
He's gonna give them some much-needed stability at the back, especially with Dias and Gvardiol out. And with City's form so poor, you've got to think they'll be desperate for a win now. So fingers crossed they can turn it around soon! 