MANCHESTER.- Pep Guardiola He had enough to worry about before he Manchester City was embroiled in possibly the biggest scandal in the history of the Premier League.
Off the field, City face accusations that the club breached a series of financial regulations by squandering money. On the pitch, Guardiola has his own battle defending the league title and keeping the season on track.
Although City’s position in the standings remains healthy enough, they are second, five points behind the leaders. Arsenalthe defeat on Sunday against the Tottenham makes believe that all is not well in the team. That was the case before the explosive measures the league took on Monday.
Almost the entire season has permeated a feeling of malaise and uncertainty in the team. Erling Haaland It is becoming the point of analysis to figure out what is wrong with City.
“Erling has been fantastic. Nobody says anything when they score goals and win,” said the City defender, Kyle Walker. “Suddenly now we don’t win and he doesn’t score, they say. ‘Is the problem? Do we play better without him?’ I hear it all the time.”
Walker has a point, but his comment suggests that doubts raised outside the club have begun to haunt the players.
Haaland has been incredible, with 31 goals in 27 games. But City have become more predictable as a result of having a prominent target at center forward..
In recent years, Guardiola has relied on goals from the entire team, without allowing opposing defenses to focus on a threat zone. Although City’s mark of 53 goals in 21 games is almost identical to what it was last year at this point in the campaign, it is eight points fewer.
Even with the addition of Haaland, City have found it harder to win —has three fewer wins at the same point as last season.
The problem may not be Haaland. After all, his on-goal stats are incredible.
Guardiola seems to be trying to find a way to make his team react at a point where there is still a lot at stake. the departure of João Cancelo and the substitution of Kevin De Bruyne They seem like drastic attempts to do something, but it also leaves you wondering what you’ll do next.
The Spaniard is in his seventh campaign with City – he has never stayed this long at the same club since he began his managerial career. Now he will possibly have to deal with his most extensive rebuild since joining the club in 2016..
FUENTE: AP
