Manchester City's Champions League loss at Bodo/Glimt has sent shockwaves through the football world, not just because of the magnitude of the defeat itself but also because it raises serious questions about Pep Guardiola's long-term future as Manchester City manager.
For those who were expecting a comfortable win for City against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in Tuesday's Champions League match, the 3-1 reverse will have come as a rude awakening. The Citizens' struggles to find form and consistency are now well-documented, and this latest result has only served to further fuel speculation about Guardiola's future at the Etihad.
Man City have no form to call upon apart from victories in the Carabao and FA Cups since scrapping a fortunate late 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest on December 27. The team's lack of confidence is now evident, with recent defeats in the Manchester derby and against Manchester United leaving them trailing in the Premier League table.
The absence of key midfielder Rodri after his ill-disciplined sending-off on Tuesday has also left City struggling to plug gaping gaps in their central defence, making life even more difficult for the team. With a Champions League playoff potentially looming, City's chances of automatic qualification now look increasingly fragile.
Guardiola himself described the defeat as "unbelievable" and admitted that everything was going wrong, stating that he needs to try and change it. This is not just a passing phase; City have been struggling for months, and their struggles are starting to mount by the day.
As City's fixture list in February takes shape, they face an ultra-congested schedule with double header Champions League playoff matches potentially hanging in the balance. Their position in the top eight now looks vulnerable, with 13 points separating them from safety.
Guardiola has run his race at Man City; he can't seem to adjust tactically and is struggling to get the best out of his team. The players have given up, and it's sad times ahead for the Citizens' faithful if they fail to turn things around quickly. Pep needs to come up with some new ideas and start playing players who are in form.
Guardiola has run out of ideas; he keeps favouring players who are out of form and it's costing us big time. We have top-class players even without the injuries, but our problem is the tactics - slow build-ups give every opponent a chance to organise their solid defence, and then when we lose the ball they chip over us and have a clear run for goal. Pep should go; we've had the best of him.
The end result will be an unhappy one if City fail to get back on track quickly.
For those who were expecting a comfortable win for City against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in Tuesday's Champions League match, the 3-1 reverse will have come as a rude awakening. The Citizens' struggles to find form and consistency are now well-documented, and this latest result has only served to further fuel speculation about Guardiola's future at the Etihad.
Man City have no form to call upon apart from victories in the Carabao and FA Cups since scrapping a fortunate late 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest on December 27. The team's lack of confidence is now evident, with recent defeats in the Manchester derby and against Manchester United leaving them trailing in the Premier League table.
The absence of key midfielder Rodri after his ill-disciplined sending-off on Tuesday has also left City struggling to plug gaping gaps in their central defence, making life even more difficult for the team. With a Champions League playoff potentially looming, City's chances of automatic qualification now look increasingly fragile.
Guardiola himself described the defeat as "unbelievable" and admitted that everything was going wrong, stating that he needs to try and change it. This is not just a passing phase; City have been struggling for months, and their struggles are starting to mount by the day.
As City's fixture list in February takes shape, they face an ultra-congested schedule with double header Champions League playoff matches potentially hanging in the balance. Their position in the top eight now looks vulnerable, with 13 points separating them from safety.
Guardiola has run his race at Man City; he can't seem to adjust tactically and is struggling to get the best out of his team. The players have given up, and it's sad times ahead for the Citizens' faithful if they fail to turn things around quickly. Pep needs to come up with some new ideas and start playing players who are in form.
Guardiola has run out of ideas; he keeps favouring players who are out of form and it's costing us big time. We have top-class players even without the injuries, but our problem is the tactics - slow build-ups give every opponent a chance to organise their solid defence, and then when we lose the ball they chip over us and have a clear run for goal. Pep should go; we've had the best of him.
The end result will be an unhappy one if City fail to get back on track quickly.