Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have continued to try more of the same and it simply hasn’t worked | OneFootball

Manchester City slumped to a dismal 5-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates last night. The way Pep Guardiola’s side fell apart during the game’s final half-hour was the perfect encapsulation of City’s issues this season. But with every game where we have seen the same frailties cost the world champions the more they have continued to do the same. That’s been an issue for some time as Pep Guardiola has put his faith in the players he trusts this season.

Manchester City’s midfield has been a problem ever since Rodri went down with an ACL injury in September. We have seen Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan primarily used to fill the void left by Rodri’s absence. But as we have seen all three players aren’t capable of filling that void. That isn’t a knock on them but they simply aren’t the player Rodri is. Whether that’s as individuals or as a collective. The trio also lack the legs to keep up with their opponents. They can’t get back defensively and that’s left Manchester City’s defence horribly exposed. Arsenal took full advantage of this fact as have a host of City’s opponents this season. Perhaps the time to try something different or play youth in midfield should have been trialled well before last night’s defeat.

READ MORE: The defeat that had been coming finally arrived for Manchester City.

At the back, Manchester City has leaked goals all season. Injuries have decimated City’s defensive stocks all season long. Outside of Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol, there isn’t a lot of defensive depth in City’s squad. Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis joined the club this month. But they haven’t been a part of the issue or solution just yet this season. Matheus Nunes has stepped in at right-back but that isn’t his natural position. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is a young defender so he isn’t yet ready or trusted to step into City’s defence. City’s defensive frailties have also cost them this season but you do feel that if Manchester City’s midfield was more mobile and athletic they could’ve helped in this regard. That still doesn’t account for the errors that have plagued City’s play this season which again haunted Pep Guardiola’s side last night.

But whether it’s in midfield, at the back, or tactically, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have tried to do more of the same all season long. It simply hasn’t worked. There are factors that have contributed to this as mentioned above. But to keep doing more of the same hasn’t suited the current Manchester City squad. It’s unclear what the solution is and perhaps we won’t know that until next season. It has been unusual to see the same issues harm Pep Guardiola’s side over and over again without a solution being found. But perhaps the required solution just isn’t in the City squad as it’s built currently.