In the end Manchester City are paying the price for their own arrogance | OneFootball

Manchester City drew 1-all with Everton earlier today at the Etihad. The performance from Pep Guardiola’s side wasn’t the worst of their poor run of form. But what was on show was that the Premier League champions are paying the price for their own arrogance and back-slapping last summer. The effects of that were on display today against Sean Dyche’s side.

There were glimpses today that Manchester City were returning to their best. Their opening half-hour against Sean Dyche’s side resembled City at their best. But as we’ve seen during this recent run from Pep Guardiola’s side they cannot sustain that level of play. There are too many frailties in his City side. Everton knew how to get at the Premier League champions. It’s become quite simple now and Everton’s equaliser came from that knowledge. The cause of it all can be traced back to last summer as much as it can be blamed on injuries or a busier-than-usual schedule.

Manchester City’s hierarchy including Pep Guardiola cannot be surprised by the toll this season has taken on City’s ageing squad. You didn’t have to be Nostradamus to see what could unfold. The 24/25 season was always going to be a marathon. The expanded FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Champions League league phase weren’t announced a day before the season began. These were factors that were common knowledge before the season began. Same with the toll a busy of summer of internationals would have on City’s players. But despite all of this information Manchester City stood still last summer. Now we are seeing what price is being paid by that move.

A look at how several of Manchester City’s players played today showed it. Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji are clearly playing hurt. Perhaps another defender being signed last summer could’ve helped. Bernardo Silva somehow keeps playing 90 minutes after 90 minutes. That’s a credit to him and his fitness. But should he be in this position? No he shouldn’t. Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and John Stones have all shown signs that they were on the decline with their form, fitness and age last season. Instead no cover was brought in. Or what cover is in Manchester City’s squad isn’t being used. Selling Julian Alvarez without buying a replacement placed an unrealistic burden on Erling Haaland. There is a long list of follies that were made by the City hierarchy last summer. But in the end Manchester City’s arrogance caught up to them.

Manchester City’s hierarchy had every right to pay themselves on the back in recent times. Six Premier League titles in seven years, a treble, and four consecutive Premier League titles all won, and more, gives them the right to enjoy their own success. But in sport doing that and taking your eye off the ball can prove costly. That’s what we are currently seeing from Pep Guardiola’s side. It was clear to see today what the toll of standing still has had on City’s players. But this season will be a lesson for Manchester City. From that lesson City’s rebuild will come. So it isn’t all doom and gloom even though it all could’ve been avoided last summer.