Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are largely unaccustomed to the notion of a losing streak. Their recent four-game losing run—something the club hasn’t experienced since 2006, before the takeover—is unsettling, especially for Guardiola, who had only encountered three consecutive losses in his prior club role.
Technically, he did have a four-game losing spell if you count Bayern Munich’s penalty shootout loss to VFL Wolfsburg in the 2014/15 season.
But what does this slump mean for City’s chances in the 2024/25 Premier League title race?
Guardiola hinted that City’s title defense might be at risk. Speaking with BBC Sport, he said, “Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserve it.”
He continued, “In the press conference today, I was asked if this was the end of an era. I know people want that. I’ve sensed it for years.
People said what we’ve achieved was so tough, but if someone wants to beat us, it will happen eventually because we won’t win every Premier League for the next 50 years. It is not feasible.
Is City’s dominance really fading, or do they still have a shot? With City currently five points behind leaders Liverpool, it’s tough to say. Guardiola might be using this uncertainty to shift some pressure onto Liverpool and Arsenal.
Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot, however, is unlikely to be influenced by Guardiola’s psychological games. While Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta might be more affected, Slot—calm and collected on the sidelines—appears unfazed by such tactics. Though he hasn’t dismissed a title push, he acknowledges that City and Arsenal set the benchmark.
After Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, Slot discussed his approach: “Nothing is guaranteed in this league because Arsenal, City, Chelsea… these clubs can win so many games. So, we are focused only on ourselves.”
Now it’s Guardiola’s turn again, but whether his mind games will have any effect on Slot remains uncertain.