Guardiola moves into unchartered territory: is his job at risk?

Manchester City’s crisis is more apparent than ever. Despite a 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest and a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace ending a seven-game winless streak (six losses and one draw) and reigniting their Premier League title hopes, the team continues to struggle in Europe.

Their most recent and disheartening 2-0 defeat to Juventus has left the ‘Citizens’ teetering on the edge of elimination. While City remains a favorite to win the 2024-2025 Champions League, their path to the top eight is far from assured. With only two group-stage matches left, they are fighting to keep their campaign alive in Europe’s premier competition.

City into unprecedented territory

The match in Turin marked their third consecutive Champions League game without a win, following a 4-1 loss in Lisbon and a dramatic 3-3 draw against Feyenoord. Manchester City will end 2024 in 22nd place in the overall standings, with just eight points from six matches.

Although Pep Guardiola’s side is only one point behind Real Madrid, their primary obstacle is the challenging schedule ahead. A crucial clash with PSG looms on January 22, as City visits Paris to face Luis Enrique’s equally desperate team. A week later, on January 29, they conclude their group stage campaign at home against Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium.

The showdown with PSG is effectively a final, as the French side sits in 25th place with seven points. Although Guardiola’s team has the relative comfort of facing Club Brugge—three spots and two points ahead in the standings—a poor result in Paris would severely jeopardise their chances of progressing further in the Champions League.

Guardiola has yet to find the formula to revive his team, which has managed just one win in its last 10 games while conceding 23 goals. The matchup with Luis Enrique will be a high-stakes encounter, with both managers battling for European survival.

However, despite this poor run of form, there have been no suggestions that Guardiola’s job is at risk and it seems that he is seen as the perfect man to turn things around.

Guardiola remains optimistic about his team

Speaking to TNT Sports Brasil, Guardiola sought to bring some clarity and optimism to Manchester City’s current predicament. He praised Juventus and his own team, attributing their struggles to a lack of precision in attack rather than a fundamental flaw in their performance. Here’s what he had to say:

On the defeat:
“We played very well. We lacked the final pass—better crosses, better shots. Apart from that, we were solid. Juventus is a very physical team, the strongest in Italy. It’s always difficult to play here, but we performed well overall.”

On injuries and fatigue:
“We were in good shape. I didn’t see the team looking tired. Toward the end, transitions can happen, but in general, we performed well. We just needed to create more clear chances. I accept that. We lacked fluidity in critical areas, but the effort was there.”

On defensive lapses:
“This isn’t something you can train nowadays. Coaches can’t prepare for every scenario. Sometimes it’s a matter of circumstances—good periods and bad periods. But we remain here, ready to fight. We’ll keep talking, playing, and eventually, we’ll turn things around. All I can say is that this team is fantastic.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

Original article written by Pablo Montaño, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.