(Seoul = News 1) Reporter Lee Sang-cheol = Manchester City, the first team to win four consecutive titles since the launch of the English Premier League (EPL), lost its prestige as the ‘strongest team’ in the 2024-25 season. As the team fell into a quagmire of 5 consecutive losses in official competitions, their League Cup victory was canceled, and the emergency light was turned on in their attempt to win 5 consecutive EPL titles.
Manchester City was defeated 0-4 by Tottenham Hotspur, with Son Heung-min contributing 1 assist, in the 2024-25 EPL 12th round home game held at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England on the 24th (Korean time).
The match against Tottenham was the first game played after announcing a two-year contract renewal with manager Pep Guardiola, but Man City failed to rebound. They were dragged down by allowing two goals to James Madison in 20 minutes in the first half, but were unable to make up for a single goal and suffered a crushing defeat.
As a result, Manchester City has lost five games since losing 1-2 against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup (League Cup) quarterfinals on the 31st of last month. During this period, they lost 1-4 in the away game against Sporting CP (Portugal) in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), and in the EPL, they lost 1-4 to Bournemouth (1-2), Brighton (1-2), and Tottenham (0-0). 4) We lost against all of them.
It is the first time that Manchester City has lost five consecutive official competitions since Guardiola took office in the summer of 2016. In the entire team history, it has been 18 years since 2006. In addition, the EPL home undefeated streak that had been going on since December of last year stopped at 35 games.
After the game against Tottenham, Coach Guardiola expressed a sense of crisis, saying, “I have never experienced anything like this in the past eight years (since taking office). It is only natural to be concerned if we do not win. If I or the players say they are not worried at all, that is the problem.” He said he was feeling it.
He then calmly said, “It’s not something I’m used to, but this is life. Sometimes it happens and we have to accept that reality.”
Manchester City, who was considered a strong contender for the championship this season, went undefeated for 9 consecutive games (7 wins, 2 draws) after the opening, engaging in a ‘battle of the two powers’ with Liverpool. However, the biggest challenge of the season came, and as they faltered, they were one step behind in the championship race.
Manchester City recorded 23 points and was unable to close the gap with Liverpool (28 points), which had played one less game. If Liverpool defeats bottom-placed Southampton on the 24th, the gap between the two teams will widen to 8 points.
Additionally, Manchester City is scheduled to face Liverpool away on December 2nd. If Manchester City loses again in this game, Coach Guardiola’s challenge of winning his fifth consecutive EPL title could become even more difficult.
The reason Man City is collapsing is because of their lax defense. During the five-game losing streak, a whopping 14 goals were allowed. A warning bell sounded when defensive midfielder Rodri, who won the Ballon d’Or this year, left due to a knee injury, and ultimately was unable to fill the void. The defenders also brought trouble to themselves with their sloppy defense.
The BBC said, “Man City has not lost a single game in which Rodri has played since last season. However, the win rate in games without Rodri has dropped to 50%,” and “An aging squad is also a problem. They spend 52% of the game time. “Players over the age of 29 played, which is the highest number in the EPL this season,” he pointed out.
Manchester City’s scoring power has also fallen, with only 4 goals in the last 5 games. In the match against Tottenham, he attempted 23 shots but failed to score a single goal. The accuracy of shooting clearly decreased. The average effective shots were 7.3 in the first 14 games of the season, but decreased to 4.8 during the 5-game losing streak.
Coach Guardiola said, “Currently, our team’s defense is too weak. We are also having difficulty scoring goals.”
Manchester City’s current situation makes it difficult for them to pursue their ambitions of winning 5 consecutive EPL titles. Coach Guardiola mentioned that his hopes of winning the title could disappear if he loses even the away game against Liverpool, saying, “At the moment, I am not thinking at all about success or failure in winning the title. I am not in a position to imagine what will happen at the end of the season.” He said.
## World Today News – Interview: Manchester City’s Unprecedented Slump
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News, where we delve into the hottest topics dominating the sporting world. Today, we are discussing Manchester City’s shocking five-game losing streak, a first under Pep Guardiola’s reign. We have two esteemed guests with us: **[Guest 1 Name]**, a renowned football analyst with years of experience covering the EPL, and **[Guest 2 Name]**, a former professional footballer who understands the complexities of the game from both on and off the pitch.
**Section 1: Analyzing the Unprecedented Slump**
* **Host:** Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Manchester City, the seemingly invincible force, has suddenly hit a rough patch. **[Guest 1]**, what are your initial thoughts on this dramatic turn of events, especially considering their four consecutive EPL titles?
* **Host:** **[Guest 2]**, you experienced the pressures of top-level football firsthand. Have you ever seen a team experience such a sudden and drastic decline, and if so, what factors might have contributed to it?
**Section 2: Dissecting the Defensive Woes**
* **Host:** The article highlights Manchester City’s porous defense, conceding 14 goals during this losing streak. **[Guest 1]**, how much of this defensive fragility is attributable to Rodri’s absence, and are there deeper issues at play within the defensive unit?
* **Host:** **[Guest 2]**, from a player’s perspective, do you think the age of City’s squad might be playing a factor in their performance lately? How does age impact endurance, recovery, and overall team cohesion?
**Section 3: The Attacking Irony – Goals Drying Up**
* **Host:** Interestingly, while their defense is struggling, Manchester City’s attacking prowess also seems to be waning. **[Guest 1]**, how do you explain this unusual decline in goalscoring, considering their previously potent attack? Is it a tactical issue, a lack of confidence, or something else entirely?
* **Host:** **[Guest 2]**, during your playing career, did you ever experience periods where your team’s goalscoring mysteriously dried up? What psychological or tactical aspects might contribute to this phenomenon?
**Section 4: The Road Ahead - Can City Recover?**
* **Host:** The upcoming match against Liverpool looms large. **[Guest 1]**, what are your predictions for this crucial clash? Can Manchester City turn their fortunes around, or will Liverpool capitalize on their vulnerability?
* **Host:** **[Guest 2]**, Pep Guardiola has expressed concern about the team’s current form. Can Guardiola’s tactical genius and motivational skills steer them back to winning ways? Is this slump just a blip, or a signal of a larger problem?
* **Host**: Our guests have provided insightful analysis on Manchester City’s current situation. This unexpected downturn raises many questions about their future and the possibilities of a fifth consecutive EPL title. What are your concluding thoughts on this fascinating developing story?
**Closing:**
Thank you, **[Guest 1]** and **[Guest 2]**, for delving deep into the intricacies of Manchester City’s current predicament. This complexioned story is certainly one to watch, and we will undoubtedly be following with great interest as they try to navigate this challenging period.
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