Perhaps Manchester City’s loss to Sporting needed to happen to lay it all bare | OneFootball

Manchester City’s loss to Sporting last night was an eye-opener. To see Pep Guardiola’s side dismantled in such an emphatic manner stood out. The second half of the world champions’ 4-1 defeat to Ruben Amorim’s side was one of the worst halves of football Manchester City has played for some time. But perhaps that defeat needed to happen for the champions to discover exactly what has gone wrong in the past three games.

There are several factors that have led to Manchester City losing their last three games in all competitions. Injuries, players who aren’t fully fit and who are out of form have exasperated City’s issues. As good as the City squad is they can’t overcome the issues they are currently faced with against good opponents. There is also a noticeable susceptibility to teams with pace on the break that is hurting Pep Guardiola’s side. Any keen observer of City games can see that. But last night, during Manchester City’s loss to Sporting, every issue facing City was on full display. Credit must go to Sporting for taking full advantage of them. The hosts were deserved victors, especially based on their second-half display.

But what a loss like last night’s does it brings everything out in the open. Maybe that’s what Manchester City needed to help Pep Guardiola and his team find what’s been missing at the moment. Bernardo Silva spoke of this after last night’s defeat. Pep Guardiola told the media he is ready for the fight that lies ahead. It already appears that City are ready to what is required to get of the current rut they find themselves in.

It was a bad night for Manchester City against Sporting last night. A shocking one in fact. But in time it may be the loss Manchester City had to have to move forward and rediscover their best form. Time will reveal the answer to that question.