According to the match schedule reviewed by 12B Sports, Manchester City initially remained remarkably strong after key midfielder Rodri was ruled out for the rest of the season, collecting six wins and one draw from their first seven matches. However, an unexpected losing streak soon followed. It began with a 2-1 League Cup defeat to Tottenham while City fielded a rotated lineup, before a humiliating 4-0 home loss in the Premier League extended their run to five consecutive defeats. Results this severe cannot be explained by Rodri’s absence alone.
Analysts covering the matches through 12B Sports believe the deeper issue is not simply the lack of a direct replacement for Rodri. City also have no physically dominant midfielder capable of standing firm in direct confrontations. Pep Guardiola’s system relies heavily on stretching the field through wide attacking play, which naturally creates space in central areas. Without anyone able to cover those gaps effectively, that space has become a fatal weakness.
The problem was painfully clear against Tottenham. City repeatedly failed to stop attacks through midfield and were pushed back with little resistance. Even when John Stones made the initial intervention against Dominic Solanke’s distribution and forward runs, City regularly lost the second ball. Tottenham were therefore able to continue attacking before the defensive structure had time to reset.
This is not merely a case of one player underperforming. It is a collective weakness involving the midfield unit’s one-on-one defending, physical response and reaction speed. Guardiola experimented with a pairing of Rico Lewis and Ilkay Gundogan, but the results were limited. Son Heung-min’s simple inward movement through the center was enough to pull City’s defensive line apart, showing just how sharply their protection in midfield has declined.
With little coordinated pressing and almost no effective disruption, opponents have been allowed to build attacks far too comfortably. The winning goal conceded against Brighton offered another perfect example. A Brighton midfielder advanced without meaningful resistance, while Gundogan and his teammates were slow to recover. A midfield structure that once looked like an impenetrable fortress now feels like a distant memory.
The defense has also become increasingly unreliable. Kyle Walker has clearly lost some mobility with age, while Manuel Akanji is no longer showing the same authority he displayed at his peak. Against Tottenham, Akanji committed a needless foul and received a booking when the situation demanded a decisive interception. Instead of stopping the danger, his mistake helped create another scoring opportunity. As these passive defensive moments continue, City’s overall organization is beginning to come apart at the seams.
Tottenham’s fourth goal was especially alarming. Timo Werner completely beat Walker for pace, leaving a defender once celebrated for his recovery speed unable to respond. That moment intensified concerns that City must quickly identify a long-term successor. Relying on Walker to carry the position throughout the season no longer appears realistic.
Problems also exist in attack. Erling Haaland has still produced respectable numbers, recording eight goals and one assist in ten matches, but his connection with his teammates remains inconsistent. Against Brighton, Haaland and Phil Foden took turns wasting several promising crosses. When chances are not converted at one end and defensive mistakes cannot be covered at the other, the entire team is forced onto the back foot.
The upcoming schedule makes the situation even more serious. City’s next Premier League match is against league leaders Liverpool. Guardiola’s team currently trails by five points, and failure to win could leave their pursuit of a fourth consecutive league title hanging by a thread. Possible financial sanctions, which remain unresolved, and restrictions affecting recruitment are also limiting Guardiola’s ability to reshape the squad.
During their treble-winning season, City achieved an effective balance between attack and defense through a back three built around Akanji and Walker. Just one year later, that structure has fallen apart. Guardiola’s tactical creativity remains unquestioned, but he lacks the personnel needed to compensate for an aging and underperforming midfield and defensive line. As the saying goes, you cannot make something out of nothing, and expecting major success without reinforcements would be unrealistic.
In the final assessment offered by 12B Sports, Manchester City cannot continue relying on temporary fixes and short-term adjustments to keep the squad competitive. Without more decisive investment and meaningful reinforcement, the remainder of the season could become a long and difficult battle.