Since Pep Guardiola replaced Chilean boss, Manuel Pellegrini, in the dugout at the Etihad, Manchester City have enjoyed an era of success unprecedented in their history. The club have, quite simply, never had it so good. Under the former Barca man, they have won more than 72% of the games they have played, with no other manager in charge for more than 30 games achieving more than 60%. City have won their first Champions League title, as well as an astonishing six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four EFL Cups.
However, at the time of writing, City fans are probably more concerned than they have been for a long time. Leaving aside the legal and administrative charges against them, which are potentially of huge import, Pep’s troops are enduring what, by their standards, is an appalling run of form. They have lost their last three games in a row.
A defeat in the EFL Cup when fielding a much-changed XI is not a big concern. However, a 2-1 defeat in the Premier League to Bournemouth and then a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League will certainly be causing plenty of angst in City-supporting households and at the club itself. What’s more, before these three defeats, they only managed to squeeze past Southampton 1-0 at the Etihad. Southampton, that is, who had lost seven and drawn one in the PL up until that point.
A Great Night for Manchester (Red Half)
It’s done.
Bem-vindo ao Manchester United, Ruben Amorim 🇵🇹🤝🔴#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 1, 2024
Sporting Lisbon are a decent side and under the brilliant management of Rúben Amorim they have won two Liga titles. But, nonetheless, when they hosted City on Tuesday the 5th of November, the fireworks were expected to come from the away side.
All Champions League games are big occasions but this one was given extra spice due to the recent announcement that Amorim would be taking over at Man United. Previously linked with City, in the event Pep decided to leave, and with Liverpool before they appointed Arne Slot, 39-year-old Amorim is the hottest young manager in Europe.
For United fans this was a chance to see what their new man, who will assume his duties at Old Trafford on the 11th of November. City supporters, in contrast, would have been keen to get a big win so they could have a bit of a laugh at their neighbours in the red half of the city.
Phil Foden set the away side on their way after just four minutes and Sporting – and United fans – must have feared the worst. However, Amorim’s troops hit back in real style, scoring four unanswered goals to inflict a heavy defeat on City that leaves them, and their boss, wondering where to go next. But just how does that 4-1 defeat rank in terms of the biggest Pep has suffered during his time in Manchester?
Pep’s Biggest City Losses
City’s boss has taken charge for a huge 489 games and there have been just 66 defeats. Whilst Erik ten Hag managed to rack up a number of big, big losses in his relatively short spell at United, unsurprisingly, few have been the times Pep has overseen a loss of more than a goal.
Chastening Early Loss to Barca
The Catalan tactician’s time at the Etihad began brilliantly, with 10 straight wins. Then came a draw and a 2-0 loss to Spurs, followed by another draw and then a 4-0 hammering at the hands of his former club, Barcelona.
On the 19th of October 2016, he took City to the Camp Nou and the home side outclassed them. Both teams ended the game with 10 men, City losing a player first when Lionel Messi had already given the hosts the lead. After the red card, Messi completed a hat-trick before Barca had a man dismissed with 17 minutes remaining. Neymar wrapped up the scoring with a minute to go.
Thrashing by Everton
Losing a Champions League game 4-0 away to a Messi-inspired Barcelona is one thing, but being humbled by that same score at Everton is quite different. However, that is what happened on the 15th of January 2017 in the Premier League.
City had 71% possession but Ronald Koeman’s men restricted them to few real chances and were superb in front of goal. Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas both scored, as did two teenagers. Ademola Lookman – now thriving at Atalanta and linked to a big PL return – netted, as did Tom Davies – now struggling for game time at Sheffield United.
Five for Foxes
City very rarely concede four goals, let alone five, but that is what happened when they met Leicester on the 27th of September 2020. That this clash took place at the Etihad made it even more surprising, whilst the fact that Riyad Mahrez gave the home team the lead four minutes in adds to the shock that must have existed when the full-time whistle sounded.
City had been beaten 5-2 on home soil, with Nathan Ake getting a late goal that briefly gave City hope at 4-2 before Youri Tielemans put the game to bed from the spot four minutes later. There were two more penalties for Leicester, helping Jamie Vardy to a hat-trick, with James Maddison also bagging.
Are City in Trouble?
In addition to the games mentioned above, Liverpool also inflicted a heavy defeat on Pep’s City, beating them 3-0 in the Champions League in April 2018. The Reds were three to the good after just 31 minutes and were rampant at Anfield in the quarter-final first-leg clash.
That game aside though, it has been rare indeed for City to get beaten by more than a single goal. Overall, this latest defeat, whilst not quite as bad as the thrashings delivered by Barca and Everton, is very much among the worst Guardiola has overseen at the club. Are City in trouble, or will they bounce back? It would take a brave person to bet against them and their brilliant boss.