Goldbridge: “Something fundamentally is not right at Man City” after Forest defeat | OneFootball

Man City’s Crisis Deepens as Liverpool Tighten Grip on Premier League Title

The latest episode of That’s Football, featuring Mark Goldbridge, dissected Manchester City’s struggles following their 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. The loss not only highlighted City’s ongoing issues but also strengthened Liverpool’s position at the summit of the Premier League.

Goldbridge, never one to shy away from blunt analysis, was scathing in his assessment of City’s performance, questioning their aura, their future, and even Pep Guardiola’s long-term position.

Manchester City’s Struggles Laid Bare

The defeat to Nottingham Forest was no fluke, according to Goldbridge. Despite 70% possession, City could only manage three shots on target, while Forest, with their counter-attacking approach, had four.

“70% possession – three shots on target. Forest had four and Ederson pulled off a worldie. The right team won, justifiably.”

Goldbridge dismissed any excuses about possession-based football, pointing out that Inter Milan famously sat deep and countered against Barcelona in 2010 and won the Champions League.

City’s defensive frailties, lack of attacking fluidity, and an absence of spark were exposed, leading Goldbridge to question the mentality of the squad: “Phil Foden’s not the player he was. Most of their players are not the players they were. Some of them are going to have to leave. Erling Haaland doesn’t look like the best striker in the world at the moment.”

With Bournemouth up next in the FA Cup, Goldbridge even speculated whether another upset could be on the cards: “Why would they not lose that game? They’re just not playing well.”

Guardiola’s Future Under Scrutiny

One of the most striking talking points was Goldbridge’s belief that Guardiola’s time at City might be approaching its end. The Catalan tactician has dominated English football for years, but cracks are appearing. “Man City was scary. It really was. I think they look like a team at the moment that’s lost their aura.”

Goldbridge argued that, much like Arsène Wenger at Arsenal, managers can overstay their welcome: “Pep Guardiola is either going to have to start winning titles again and leave at the top, or he’s going to have to slip off out the back door.”

The inevitability of change looms over City. If they fail to recover this season, could Guardiola be the next big departure?

Photo IMAGO

Liverpool Edge Closer to the Title

While City stuttered at the City Ground, Liverpool calmly collected another three points. Arne Slot’s side dispatched Southampton with two penalties, reinforcing their command at the top of the Premier League.

Goldbridge, though, took a wry approach to Liverpool’s regular penalty awards, reminiscing about the late 1980s dominance of the Reds.

“Liverpool were dominant, and you’d get penalties in front of the Kop if somebody sneezed on you.”

However, he acknowledged that Liverpool’s victory was inevitable, and the only surprise was that they didn’t win by a bigger margin: “Southampton were never going to win that game. The only surprise to me was that it wasn’t six or seven nil.”

With Liverpool’s relentless march towards the title, the focus now shifts to whether anyone can stop them.

“Liverpool have won this title. It’s just a matter of when they win it.”

Is This the End of an Era?

Goldbridge’s most significant conclusion was that City’s dominance could be fading. Nine Premier League defeats this season have left them fighting for a top-five finish rather than a title.

“Man City – dominant title winners to fighting for top five. Something fundamentally is not right there.”

Despite questioning Guardiola’s future, Goldbridge acknowledged that City still hold power in the transfer market, and a summer rebuild is inevitable. However, with Liverpool surging, City faltering, and Guardiola’s future uncertain, the next few months could define Manchester City’s trajectory for years to come.