What’s going on with Manchester Metropolis?
The Treble winners haven’t gained in 4 matches and are six factors behind leaders Arsenal within the Premier League.
After their 1-0 loss at Aston Villa on Wednesday night time supervisor Pep Guardiola admitted his aspect “are struggling”.
And former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes the champions are “in a mini disaster”, telling BBC Match of the Day “they give the impression of being weak”.
Leon Bailey’s 74th-minute deflected shot gave Villa a deserved victory – one which meant Metropolis dropped to fourth within the desk, behind Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal.
With so many challengers rising, is Metropolis’s crown beginning to slip after three successive titles?
Better of the stats – Worst defensive begin since 2009
The stats don’t look good for a Manchester Metropolis aspect looking a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title.
- Metropolis have gone 4 Premier League video games with out a win for the primary time since April 2017, having drawn with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham earlier than their loss Aston Villa.
- Metropolis conceded 17 targets throughout their first 15 Premier League matches for the primary time since 2009-10 once they completed fifth.
- They tried simply two pictures in opposition to Villa – the fewest ever by a Guardiola staff in a sport inside Europe’s large 5 leagues (a run of 535 video games)
- The 22 pictures from Aston Villa was the joint-most confronted by a Guardiola aspect in the identical interval
- Man Metropolis have misplaced all 4 matches Rodri has not performed this season
It’s price mentioning although that of their 2018-19 title-winning season below Guardiola, Metropolis have been 10 factors off prime spot after 19 video games and nonetheless went on to win the Premier League with 98 factors.
Don’t rely them out simply but.
Guardiola appears for ‘options’ to issues
After the disappointing defeat, Guardiola admitted “the higher staff gained” and he “has to discover a answer” to reverse Metropolis’s woes.
“We struggled, particularly within the first half and the second was utterly completely different,” the Metropolis supervisor instructed Amazon Prime. “Within the closing third, the standard of the cross and the motion, we did not discover all of it sport.
“We all know what’s our stage and as a supervisor we’ve to discover a option to win video games. We’re struggling a bit. I am right here to assist them.”
Metropolis’s 4 defeats this season have come when influential midfielder Rodri has been out of the beginning XI. The Spaniard missed the match with Villa by a one-match suspension.
With Rodri within the staff, Metropolis are unbeaten of their previous 43 matches and Guardiola added he has “to discover a option to win with out him”.
‘One of many worst video games we have seen from Metropolis’ – What they stated
Former Manchester Metropolis defender Gael Clichy on Amazon Prime: “Metropolis performed one of many worst video games we have seen from them. There was no fluidity, they have been fortunate to not concede two, perhaps three or 4.”
Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Dwell: “Metropolis appeared like a staff that have been well-beaten, really out-run tonight. Only recently groups have taken the ‘let’s have a go at them’ method – Chelsea, Spurs, now Villa, and it’s working.
Former Wales captain Ashley Williams on BBC Match of the Day: “It virtually felt like Unai Emery acquired the higher of Guardiola. In all facets of the sport, Villa acquired the higher of Manchester Metropolis. One thing is not proper. In a standard season, Metropolis would dispatch these sides.”
Former Aston Villa midfielder Andy Townsend on Amazon Prime: “I do not assume Guardiola has seen his aspect outmanoeuvred and outworked as a lot as he has tonight. Villa have dominated Manchester Metropolis.”
Ex-Aston Villa supervisor Martin O’Neill on Amazon Prime: “Manchester Metropolis have been actually disappointing, they by no means actually acquired going. There was an excessive amount of power for Manchester Metropolis to deal with. It didn’t really feel like a Guardiola aspect.”
What you stated – ‘Metropolis have clear weaknesses’
Mohammed Zahfeer: “Have by no means seen a staff dominate a Pep staff like this.. no Rodri = no Metropolis. Misplaced all 4 with out him, extra vital than Haaland.”
Tunde Paul: “Pep should be considering “what is going on on”. He’ll be trying to unleash Kevin de Bruyne as soon as again to full health. I feel [to say] they’re lacking him is an understatement.”
Scott Allen-Johns: “Man Metropolis appear completely different this season, not as dominant. They’ve clear weaknesses. It is early days nonetheless and you can not write them off however that is going to be a tighter battle. My intestine is leaning in direction of Liverpool for the title although.”
Charlie: “Metropolis will nonetheless win the league by six factors [minimum].”