Doubt is no longer allowed. Manchester City, a relentless winning machine on the English and European scenes, is a club in a crisis of results. And for the first time since the start of the Guardiola era, the spiral seems difficult to stop. On Saturday, at home, the Citizens had the opportunity to get back on track after the international break, coming off four defeats in all competitions. The reception of Tottenham on behalf of the 12th day of the Premier League, on the contrary, plunged the Mancunians into doubt. City were swept aside (0-4) by Spurs at the Etihad, conceding a fifth defeat in a row.
Tottenham, who showed great realism while containing the offensive attacks of Erling Haaland and his teammates, had already defeated the Skyblues (2-1) less than a month ago in the EFL Cup. James Maddison scored twice in the first period (13th and 20th), before defender Pedro Porro added to the tally after returning from the locker room (53rd) and Brennan Johnson hit the nail on the head for his fifth goal of the season.
Already finished for the title?
Kevin De Bruyne, who returned to the squad in recent weeks after an injury, came on without changing the course of the game. Despite 23 shots to 9, Pep Guardiola’s men took a lesson in efficiency and locked themselves into an increasingly predictable style, without the strokes of genius and the realism that have been their strength since the arrival of the technician Catalan.
We can now wonder what Guardiola will try to get out of this impasse. City risk being 8 points behind Liverpool at the end of the weekend, if the Reds win at Southampton on Sunday. The title will not be lost, but the task will be damn complicated if this configuration is confirmed.
