Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are largely unfamiliar with the idea of a losing streak.<\/p>\n
Their recent run of four consecutive defeats\u2014a rarity not seen since 2006, before the club\u2019s takeover\u2014has certainly been unsettling, especially for Guardiola, who had only ever lost three games in a row in his previous club role.<\/p>\n
Technically, he did experience a four-game streak (if you count a penalty shootout loss to VFL Wolfsburg with Bayern Munich in the 2014\/15 season).<\/p>\n
But what impact does this slump have on City\u2019s hopes for the 2024\/25 Premier League title?<\/p>\n
Guardiola hinted that City\u2019s title challenge might be in jeopardy. In a BBC Sport interview, he remarked, \u201cMaybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cToday in the press conference I was asked if it was the end of the era. I know people want that. I smell it for many, many years.<\/p>\n
What we have done in these years, people have said it\u2019s so difficult, but if somebody would like to beat us it is going to happen because in the next 50 years we\u2019re not going to win all the Premier Leagues. It\u2019s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is City\u2019s dominance truly over, or do they still have a shot? With a five-point gap between City and current leaders Liverpool, it\u2019s hard to predict. Guardiola might be using this uncertainty to add pressure to Liverpool and Arsenal as the season progresses.<\/p>\n
Yet, it\u2019s unlikely that Liverpool\u2019s manager Arne Slot will be fazed by any of Guardiola\u2019s mind games. Unlike Arsenal\u2019s Mikel Arteta, who might be more susceptible, Slot\u2014composed and calm on the touchline\u2014seems unbothered by such tactics. He hasn\u2019t ruled out a title push, though he acknowledges City and Arsenal set the standard.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of Liverpool\u2019s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, Slot commented on his approach: \u201cIt\u2019s not sure yet in this league because Arsenal, City, Chelsea, all these clubs\u2026 are able to win so many games\u2026 So, we are only focused on ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Guardiola\u2019s move again, but whether his psychological tactics will work against Slot remains to be seen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are largely unfamiliar with the idea of a losing streak.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":6939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"yoast_head":"\n