Guardiola faces big challenge after City’s Tottenham defeat

The reigning Premier League champions are not just suffering from a run of five consecutive defeats but also appear to have lost the mental resilience that was once the foundation of their success.

Guardiola, already facing mounting pressure, must now confront one of the toughest challenges of his career. As City endured their worst home defeat in over two decades, the implications of their poor form are undeniable.

This marks the first time a defending English league champion has lost five games in a row since Chelsea in 1956. It’s also the first time City have experienced such a dire run since 2006, when they were managed by Stuart Pearce.

The defeat to Tottenham wasn’t a freak result—it was part of an ongoing pattern of struggles for Guardiola’s side.

Despite the absence of key players like Rodri, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, and Jeremy Doku, City’s lineup still featured a host of experienced stars, including players who had played in the 2023 Champions League final.

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In contrast, Tottenham were missing both of their first-choice centre-backs, and yet they dominated City, who have now conceded 14 goals in their last five matches.

Guardiola’s team have struggled to find their form in recent weeks, and the 4-0 loss to Spurs highlighted their lack of hunger and defensive fragility.

With City’s star-studded squad failing to deliver, questions now surround Guardiola’s future and whether he can turn things around.

As Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim remarked, Guardiola renewing his contract was seen as “a problem for everybody here,” but based on City’s current performances, other Premier League teams might be quietly hoping Guardiola stays for the long haul.

This catastrophic defeat comes on the heels of a series of troubling results for City, leaving Guardiola to contemplate his next steps in what could be the most challenging phase of his career at the Etihad.