Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are no strangers to winning, making a rare four-game losing streak almost unthinkable for the club.
This run of defeats—a first since 2006 before City’s current era began—is difficult for everyone at the club to process, especially Guardiola.
In his previous club roles, Guardiola had only ever faced three consecutive defeats, though technically he experienced four losses in a row at Bayern Munich if one counts a penalty shootout loss to VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB Pokal during the 2014/15 season.
What impact does this rough patch have on City’s current Premier League title hopes? Guardiola gave mixed responses when questioned about their chances of a fifth consecutive title.
Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserves it,” he told BBC Sport. He later added, “Today I was asked if it was the end of the era. I know people want that. I’ve sensed it for many, many years. What we’ve done these years, people have said it’s difficult.
But in the next 50 years, we’re not going to win every Premier League. It’s impossible.”Is this a sign of doubt, or is Guardiola engaging in mind games to shift pressure? With the gap between Manchester City and Liverpool currently at five points, Guardiola seems happy to keep speculation alive.
As the season progresses, especially past the halfway mark, a clearer picture of City’s title ambitions should emerge. Meanwhile, Guardiola’s comments seem to direct some pressure onto Arsenal and Liverpool, suggesting they have an equal shot at success.
As for Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, he appears unfazed by Guardiola’s psychological tactics.
While such strategies might affect Mikel Arteta, Slot remains composed on the touchline, presenting a calm presence quite different from the animated Jurgen Klopp.
Slot has not dismissed Liverpool’s chances for the title, though he acknowledges that Manchester City and Arsenal have set a high standard.
In the wake of a strong 2-0 win over Aston Villa, he admitted, “It’s not sure yet in this league because Arsenal, City, Chelsea—all these clubs are able to win so many games, as they have shown in recent seasons.
We’re focused on ourselves, and a win against a team like Villa, who’ve done well in recent years, is always important. As Guardiola faces a challenge to defend City’s title, the battle intensifies.
Slot’s Liverpool side, already in impressive form, will be keeping up the pressure, and Guardiola’s next move will be critical as he seeks to steer City back on track.
