Manchester City drop points yet again to West Ham as title challenge suffers faltering start

It has not been a great opening 5 matches in the Premier League for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. The Citizens have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 match so far. And though, that might be acceptable for a side challenging for mid-table or Europa League qualification, it will not be enough to make an assault for the title and claim it back from defending champs Liverpool.

Many doubts have crept in as to why such a lowly return has been endured by City, who are usually the pioneers at creating attacking football plays and scoring goals at will. But, Pep Guardiola needs to find a consistent set of solutions and fast, if they are to have any kind of league success.

West Ham United 1-1 Manchester City: Michail Antonio scores spectacular  goal for Hammers - BBC Sport

For starters, one theory might be that the tactical philosophy has seen players stagnate over time using the same set of methods. In that sense, the backroom staff need to identify if opponents have started to catch a trend against City and could as well congest the middle areas, and put two banks of four to restrict any kind of possible pressing.

Further, there has been a lot of sideways pressing in recent times, which has seen a lack of penetration in the final third. The forwards are also creating diagonals and the inability of full-backs to provide the width means that by the time they arrive in key areas, there are blocks of defenders waiting to steal the ball.

Man City paid the price for not trusting their usual approach vs West Ham -  Joe Bray - Manchester Evening News

Another possible reason for this slow start is the fact that these set of players have not had a proper pre-season. In that sense, the first 8-10 games of the new campaign have acted as an auxiliary time for the players at City to adjust to the demands.

Building chemistry is very important for any team, and the results might start to be seen as we approach the second international break. Regardless, it should not take much time for a club like Manchester City who need to buck up their ideas and start executing the plans and string a victorious run if they want to win the league.

Do check out:

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More like this

Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne will Leave Manchester City: Is He...

Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed he will part ways with Manchester City at the end of the...
PL 2024-25: Manchester United vs Manchester City - Preview, Prediction, Starting XI and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

PL 2024-25: Manchester United vs Manchester City – Preview,...

We preview Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford and share our prediction for the Manchester United...
https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/kevin-de-bruyne-departure-confirmation-63879362

Kevin De Bruyne Announces Manchester City Departure, Uncertain About...

Kevin De Bruyne, one of the most decorated and influential midfielders in Premier League history, has officially...
Manchester City Set for Major Squad Overhaul with 10 Players on the Exit List

Manchester City Set for Major Squad Overhaul with 10...

Manchester City are bracing for a transformative summer as Pep Guardiola looks to revamp his squad following...

Premier League 2024-25: Chelsea vs Tottenham – Preview, Prediction...

Chelsea look to secure their top-four position in a London derby. Here's our preview and prediction for...

LATEST NEWS

Meta Launches Llama 4: Revolutionary AI Models with Mixture of Experts Architecture

In a surprise weekend release that sent ripples through the artificial intelligence community, Meta has unveiled its next generation of open-source AI models with...

Student Innovators Shine: AI Wins at Futurepreneurs Challenge!

In an era where AI dominates headlines, India’s college students are proving they’re not just consumers of technology—they’re pioneering its most meaningful applications. The...

ChatGPT Studio Ghibli V2: Sam Altman Teases Next-Gen AI Art After Record-Breaking Success

The digital landscape transformed almost overnight as millions flocked to OpenAI’s ChatGPT with a singular mission: to reimagine themselves as characters in a Studio...

CMF Phone 2 Teased with Design Changes, Triple Cameras

The CMF Phone 2 — expected to follow last year’s distinctive CMF Phone 1 — may be launching soon with a refreshed design. The...

Featured