Manchester City’s recent woes continued after Tuesday’s shock 3-1 Champions League defeat against Bodø/Glimt, which was a troubling result for Pep Guardiola for a number of reasons.
The city doesn’t have any form to make a request.
Apart from victories in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, City have, incredibly, not won since December 27, when they scored a lucky 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest in the closing stages.
Defeat at the Arctic Circle meant Guardiola’s side suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since November, and also lost in Saturday’s Manchester derby.
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Watch for free: Highlights of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City.
Meanwhile, City, who finished the season with eight consecutive wins, have only won two of their next seven games for the first time since December 2024 and January 2025.
“This group looks lacking in confidence,” says Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom. “Since the start of the year, it’s certainly been a pretty dire situation in the Premier League.
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Josep Guardiola feels Manchester City are “vulnerable” after Bodo/Glimt defeat in the Champions League.
“They haven’t won in four league games and the miserable loss against Man United after three consecutive draws must have really hurt.”
And while no one would call this a crisis, they suddenly look short in every part of the field, especially since City still have a chance of winning the quadruple, at least on paper.
Difficult January in the City:
January 1st – 0-0 draw against Sunderland in the Premier League.
January 4th – 1-1 draw with Chelsea at home in the Premier League.
January 7th – 1-1 draw at home with Brighton in the Premier League.
January 10th – 10-1 win over Exeter in the FA Cup.
January 13th – Win against Newcastle 2-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
January 17th – Lost 0-2 to Manchester United in the Premier League.
January 20th – Defeated 3-1 in the Champions League against Bodø/Glimt.
We feel that everything is wrong in many ways, and we must try to change that.
Man City manager Josep Guardiola
Lack of options and vulnerable backwards
Similar to Saturday’s Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford, City were once again left wide-eyed at the back at the Aspumila Stadion. Especially in the center of the last line, Abdukkodir Kusanov and Max Alleyne, who were the big culprits for the hosts’ first two goals, could not cope with the fast-paced forward duo of Bodo and Grimt.
Yes, youthful City were without 11 senior players due to illness, injury, suspension or disqualification, including recently signed new centre-back Marc Guehi, as well as first-choice centre-backs Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones.
Marc Gehi is ineligible to play in the Champions League for City until the league phase is completed
But the ease with which the Norwegian, who had never even won a Champions League match until tonight, regularly overcame his opponents should have shocked City fans, and Guardiola can’t wait to hand Guehi his debut in Saturday’s Premier League match at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Haaland is running on empty
Guardiola described Erling Haaland as “tired” a week ago after he surprisingly played the first half of City’s 10-1 FA Cup third-round win over Exeter City on January 10.
Since then, the normally prolific Norwegian striker suffered a rare embarrassment in his City career, going crazy at Old Trafford at the weekend.
And Tuesday’s return to home soil was as memorable as the 25-year-old’s yet another blank in front of goal, missing a big chance to pull his team back into the game just before half-time, firing a shot wide of the gaping goal.
Erling Haaland was hooked at Old Trafford on Saturday
As a result, Haaland hasn’t scored in an open game for a month, but with just one penalty in his last eight games, City will need their key players to start scoring quickly again if they are to have any chance of getting their stalled season back on track.
Will February games be crowded?
City currently sit in seventh place in the Champions League standings.
However, their position in the top eight is now very precarious after tonight’s shock defeat and could worsen even further after Wednesday night’s result.
If they drop out of the top eight and City’s final group game is at home to Galatasaray next Wednesday, the Champions League play-offs will become a double-header and February’s fixture list will be overcrowded.
Manchester City suffered a shocking defeat against Bodø
And that’s the last thing Guardiola’s already strong team needs now as they continue to battle on all four fronts.
“The defeats of Bodo and Grimt put this Champions League campaign in jeopardy, meaning that their relative strength in the top eight means they could well start next week’s final game outside the top eight and may need some help from elsewhere,” Ransom said.
“I don’t think anyone in City would want two more games in the playoffs considering how tough this schedule is.”
Here is the fixture list for February if City finish inside the top eight:
February 1 – Tottenham (a), Premier League February 4 – Newcastle (h) – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg February 7 – Liverpool (a), Premier League February 11 – Fulham (h), Premier League February 14 – Salford – FA Cup fourth round *February 17 or 18 – Play-offs first leg, Champions League February 21 – Newcastle (h), Premier League *24th or 25th February – Play-offs second leg, Champions League 28th February – Leeds (a), Premier League
Champions League automatic qualification is in jeopardy
Things don’t look as bad as they did last season, however, with City finishing 22nd in the new Champions League table and being given a dreaded knockout phase play-off to then-holders Real Madrid, where they lost – and are now in danger of slipping out of the top eight needed to avoid a repeat of such a scenario.
Rodri was sent off for double booking right after the start of the game.
Last season they needed 16 points to finish in the top eight, but City, who currently have 13 points, will need to win their final game at home to Galatasaray next week to reach that total.
However, with key midfielder Rodri absent after being sent off for indiscipline on Tuesday, and with no way to fill the gaping hole in central defence, there is no guarantee that Guardiola’s team will be able to get past the Turkish champions. They have already beaten Liverpool and have their sights set on a top-eight finish.
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Ben Lamson shares his thoughts on Manchester City’s shock defeat to Norway’s Bod/Glimt in the Champions League.
Your opinion: “Pep completed the race at City”
Can Guardiola turn things around at Manchester City? He chose your opinion…
Marko: I think Pep has run his own race, like a few players at City. He doesn’t seem to have been able to adapt tactically in recent years.
James Jones: I don’t think he can turn things around. Game over. I think the players have given up because they know he’s going to quit soon. Sad times await.
Glenn: City’s golden age is finally coming to an end. There have been so many changes over the last 12 months that half of our players have been sent back to positions they have never played before. Is Pep a goat? Probably. Unopenable? Never.
Charlesgalo05: Pep ran out of ideas. He continues to favor players who are not doing well, which is costing us a lot of time.
Mike: We have top-class players even without injuries. Our problem is tactics. A slow build-up gives all opponents the chance to organize a solid defense, and when we lose the ball they turn us over and try to score. Pep should go – we’ve used him to the fullest.
Gaz15: He looked exhausted over the last 6-12 months. I think he will be gone by the end of the season at the latest.
Daniel Wilde: I think Pep will turn things around at City and win the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup and hopefully the Champions League.
