We have lost our ‘fear factor’ and teams no longer fear us even in our home – Pep Guardiola
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has registered six assists and scored two goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has registered six assists and scored two goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says teams are prepared to take his side on in a manner they did not previously, which will cost City a Champions League spot if he cannot find a solution.
Guardiola did not quite say City, who face Chelsea at home on Saturday, had completely lost their ‘fear factor’.
However, as he assessed a torrid season, he zeroed in on a change in approach that indicates opponents are not intimidated the way they once were, with teams pressing his side more.
“Everyone came to the Etihad and stayed back,” he said. “The first team I saw man-marking was Neil Warnock at Cardiff. Now everyone does it. Everyone comes here; it doesn’t matter, man to man.
“They just jump to Ederson or Stefan [Ortega]. You have to adapt and do it better with the ball; otherwise, you are not qualifying for the Champions League.”
City are currently fifth in the Premier League—12 points off leaders Liverpool. Towards the end of 2024, they won only one game out of 13 and now find themselves having to beat Club Brugge on Wednesday just to claim a Champions League play-off place following this week’s defeat by Paris St-Germain.
Although City have £123m-worth of new talent available for the Premier League encounter with Chelsea, Guardiola does not believe that alone will solve his problems.
He dismissed those who focus on running statistics as evidence of whether a team is performing to its maximum or not, instead pointing out his side have not used the ball well enough.
“Speed is important, but against PSG we ran more than them,” he said. “Our problem is with the ball. This season it is what we have missed.
“If you have the ball and don’t pass properly to your mate, everything is so difficult.”
When City won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the season, few would have predicted that by the time the return meeting came around, Chelsea would be higher in the table and Guardiola’s team would be just a point in front of Bournemouth.
Guardiola believes qualification for next season’s Champions League would be like winning a trophy, given the injuries that cost him the services of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and leave him with one fit central defender this weekend, excluding new additions Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
He also said there was merit in Jose Mourinho’s famous claim that finishing second behind City with Manchester United in 2017-18 was one of the greatest achievements of his career.
“There are seasons when there are a lot of difficulties,” Guardiola said. “How do you stand up? How do you stay there?
“I remember Jose. I don’t know the reality of United, but he said many times that finishing second in that season was his biggest success. I understand completely.”
Omar Marmoush has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with Manchester City. AFP
Omar Marmoush has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with Manchester City. AFP
Egypt forward Marmoush has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League champions for an initial fee of £59 million (€75million) with add-ons worth a potential £4 million.
He is City’s third signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis as manager Pep Guardiola reshapes his squad.
The 25-year-old, who scored 37 goals in 67 games for Bundesliga side Frankfurt, said signing for City was “an amazing feeling”. “With Pep, his technical staff and the world-class facilities here, players have everything they need to improve,” he said. “That was really enticing for me when I had the chance to come here.
“And I cannot deny I also want to win trophies. City have been the most successful club in England for many, many years, so I know I am joining a winning environment and winning culture.” Director of football Txiki Begiristain said Marmoush, who has 35 international caps, was an “accomplished and exciting forward”.
“He’s had an outstanding season, and every time we have watched him, he has influenced matches,” he said. “He has all the attributes a top-class attacker requires. He has outstanding pace and awareness, and he is exceptional in front of goal. He can also play a number of different positions, which is a really valuable asset.”
Marmoush’s arrival at the Etihad comes during a frustrating season for City by their sky-high standards. The club, Premier League champions for the past four seasons, are currently fifth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool and realistically out of the title race.
Defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday means Guardiola’s side are in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since the 2012/13 season. The 2023 European champions must beat Club Brugge next week to qualify for the play-off round after letting a two-goal lead slip in their 4-2 defeat in Paris.
City struggles
City started the current campaign strongly but hit the buffers in late October, winning just one in 13 matches in all competitions. Guardiola admitted earlier this month that he may have made a mistake by turning down the option of strengthening his squad in the summer transfer window.
Marmoush, who has scored 20 goals for Frankfurt this season, fills the void left by the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid in August, significantly boosting Guardiola’s attacking options. City have been hit by a spate of injuries this season, particularly in defence.
Earlier this week they announced the signing of teenage defender Vitor Reis from Brazilian club Palmeiras for a reported fee of around £30 million. It followed the arrival of Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Ligue 1 side Lens for about £34 million.
But Walker is ending his long association with the club, set to join AC Milan on loan for the remainder of the season. The England right-back, 34, has endured a difficult campaign at City and has not started a game since their derby loss to Manchester United on December 15.
Last week City announced that forward Erling Haaland had signed a blockbuster new deal keeping the prolific forward at the Etihad until 2034. The club are splashing the cash even as they wait to learn the outcome of a major disciplinary case.
City faced an independent commission hearing last year to examine more than 100 charges from the Premier League concerning alleged breaches of its financial rules, charges the club have always strenuously denied.
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