Manchester City hit rock bottom

When money can no longer save performance and tactics become saturated, the question is: has Pep Guardiola's reign at the Etihad come to an end?

Rodri returned, but could not help Manchester City improve.

The 2024/25 season ended with Manchester City in a more devastating collapse than ever. Not only did they come up empty-handed in all major and minor arenas, Pep Guardiola's team also left a big question mark about their true ability, when money - which used to be the ultimate weapon to help them dominate European football - has now become powerless, even counterproductive.

Bitter failure

The latest Club World Cup defeat to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the round of 16 not only marked the end of Man City's dismal season, but also served as clear evidence that squad depth and character cannot be patched up with hasty signings and money thrown out the window.

Before the tournament began, the schedule seemed to have opened the door to the semi-finals for Man City. Face Al Hilal in the round of 16, then if they won, they would meet Fluminense - a path that was too easy considering the level of the English team that had shown. But instead of going through that path with the spirit of a champion, Man City stumbled in the worst possible way.

They played indistinctly, disjointedly and failed miserably. The Daily Mail did not hesitate to write directly: “Man City were given a golden opportunity, but tied their own feet and fell flat on their faces.”

The defeat was all the more bitter when we knew that, just a few weeks ago, the Man City leadership rushed into the special transfer market that FIFA opened specifically for the Club World Cup. They spent nearly 150 million euros to bring in three new players: Reijnders (70 million), Cherki (40 million) and Aït-Nouri (40 million). Adding more than 220 million euros spent in the winter transfer period on Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Khusanov and Vitor Reis, the total amount of money Man City poured into the market in half a season reached nearly 400 million euros. But all they got back was... a Community Shield championship.

It’s not like there’s never been a trophyless season, but the disappointment of this season comes from the way Man City… lost themselves. They are no longer the team that played the dominant football like in their peak period. They no longer control the game, pressuring opponents to the point of suffocation. They are confused when counter-attacked, flustered in decisive situations, and especially - there is no individual strong enough to pull the team through difficulties.

Rodrigo - a midfielder who has been key to City's success over the past three seasons - returned from a long-term injury but was unable to regain his form. He played well against Juventus, but against Al Hilal, he was only fit enough to come on as a substitute and was replaced early. City lost their midfield maestro, and no one was capable of replacing him.

The truth about Manchester City right now

After the defeat at the Club World Cup, coach Pep Guardiola still tried to be optimistic: "I see many positive things. We trained very well, the players had high morale. But the World Cup level is very harsh, and we were punished by mistakes."

But the truth is that those mistakes are no longer isolated - they are the inevitable consequence of a team struggling with itself, of a commander showing signs of tactical saturation.

Pep Guardiola has not been able to revive Manchester City.

Man City of the 2024/25 season does not lack stars, does not lack money, does not lack ambition. But they lack the most important thing: stability and identity. New contracts come in droves, but are not assembled into a system. Key players either decline or get injured. And Guardiola - although still a great coach - is also starting to show fatigue after so many years at the top.

The statistics at the end of the season made the fans even more bitter: Premier League - third place, 15 points behind Liverpool; Champions League - eliminated in the round of 16 by Real Madrid; FA Cup - lost in the final to Crystal Palace; Club World Cup - eliminated in the round of 16. A series of bad results, despite all the huge numbers in the transfer market.

It is time for Man City to look at themselves. They cannot continue to live on the glory of the past or blindly believe that spending money will solve all problems. Modern football requires more than that: a clear strategy, a stable framework, a patience in building and most importantly – the courage to overcome difficulties.

The big question now is: is this a temporary setback for Guardiola and Man City to rebuild, or is it the start of a cycle of decline? Is Pep's reign at the Etihad coming to an end?

The answer may only come next season. But one thing is certain, if Man City do not change the way they play football, no one can guarantee that they will maintain their position in this volatile world . When money is no longer magic, what remains is the truth. And the truth for Man City right now is: they have hit rock bottom.

Man City fell to Al Hilal After Inter lost to Fluminense, it was Man City's turn to lose 3-4 to Al Hilal in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ on the morning of July 1.

Source: https://znews.vn/manchester-city-cham-day-post1565630.html