Consecutive losses in both domestic and Champions League competitions are a slap in the face for Man City, an ambitious team this season. The momentum has been halted, and Pep Guardiola’s team is now in third place, seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
Looking back at Man City’s poor performance when they lost 0-2 to Leverkusen without any excuse, it is not difficult to see the disorganization and disarray in the “Citizens” squad. Pep Guardiola made 10 changes to the squad compared to the loss to Newcastle and the situation did not improve at all, even leading to a weak defeat at home.
Pep himself admitted that the rotation was “excessive” and hoped the players would find their form again when they hosted Leeds United. This weekend at the Etihad will certainly see the strongest possible Man City lineup, with Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki all returning to the starting line-up.
Leeds-born Erling Haaland is on the verge of reaching 100 Premier League goals after scoring in five consecutive games at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, the midfield, despite missing Rodri and Kovacic, still has support from Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva. For Man City, nothing but a convincing victory can help them regain confidence after a series of bad matches.
On the other hand, Leeds United traveled to Manchester in a completely opposite mood. Coach Daniel Farke’s team lost 5/6 recent matches, conceded in all 9 consecutive rounds and fell into the group of teams with “particularly dangerous” positions.
Tactical errors have raised questions about the German coach’s future, especially when Leeds lost control of the game in the second half in most matches. Losing the duo Anton Stach – Sean Longstaff has made Leeds United’s midfield even more fragile.
Leeds United are currently the second-worst scoring team in the league and often run out of steam when facing strong opponents. The recent series of two consecutive defeats at the Etihad is a reminder, warning Leeds United of a trip with less good than bad many nights this weekend.
Man City have beaten Leeds United four times in the Premier League by a total of 16 goals – including an unforgettable 7-0 win in December 2021.
At a time when they have to strain to catch up with Arsenal and erase the weak image of last midweek, Pep Guardiola’s team knows that they cannot afford to stumble again.
Comments are closed.