Manchester City’s Struggles Continue: Can They Salvage Their Season?

Manchester City’s season has taken another major hit. After being eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid and suffering a symbolic dethroning in the Premier League with a 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool, things could still worsen for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Beyond the looming verdict on the Premier League’s 115 financial breaches—expected in the coming weeks—City’s struggles on the pitch have reached an unprecedented level. Despite making history last season as the first English club to win four consecutive league titles, they now find themselves in a desperate fight just to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

A Season to Forget

City’s recent form paints a concerning picture. They have lost 14 of their last 27 games in all competitions and eight of their past 17 in the Premier League—an alarming dip since Guardiola took charge in 2016. Their decline has placed them in an unexpected battle for a top-four finish, a scenario that would have been unthinkable in previous seasons.

Although the Premier League is likely to secure five Champions League spots for next season due to England’s strong UEFA coefficient ranking, City’s current standing offers little reassurance. They sit in fourth place, only a point ahead of sixth-place Bournemouth and four points clear of ninth-place Brighton, making their remaining fixtures crucial.

Over the past 10 Premier League matches, City rank sixth in the form table, trailing behind the likes of Bournemouth and Newcastle. Stretching the form guide to the last 15 games, they drop even further to ninth, below clubs like Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Newcastle. If this trend continues, Guardiola’s streak of securing Champions League football—now in its 14th consecutive season—could be in serious jeopardy.

Injuries and a Declining Squad

Key injuries have further complicated City’s situation. Ballon d’Or winner Rodri may not return this season, while John Stones and Manuel Akanji face extended absences. Erling Haaland’s ongoing knee issues remain a major concern. Meanwhile, some of City’s most influential players—Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and the departed Ilkay Gündogan—are either past their peak or struggling to maintain their usual impact.

A Race Against the Competition

Despite their struggles, City can take some comfort in the fact that the teams chasing them are also inconsistent.

• Newcastle has lost three of their last six league matches, including a 4-0 defeat to City in February.

• Bournemouth enjoyed a strong run but recently stumbled with a surprise 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Wolves.

• Chelsea has only won two of their last 10 Premier League games, suffering five defeats in that stretch.

• Aston Villa snapped a five-game winless streak with a victory over Chelsea but have lacked consistency.

• Brighton, the most in-form of the chasing pack, has won four of their last six matches, though their heavy 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest raised questions about their ability to sustain momentum.

With no team displaying dominant form, the battle for the final Champions League spots remains wide open.

City’s Path Forward

The advantage City holds is that they still control their own fate. If they can win more games than their rivals, they will secure a top-five finish and maintain their Champions League streak. However, this requires an immediate turnaround, starting with a crucial clash against Tottenham on Wednesday, followed by key fixtures against Brighton, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth.

In previous seasons, these games would have been routine wins for City as they powered toward another title. But this campaign has been anything but typical. Now, they find themselves in an unfamiliar fight to avoid slipping into mediocrity. If their struggles continue, missing out on Champions League football—a scenario once unimaginable—could become a harsh reality.