The 2024-25 season has proven to be one of the most challenging periods in Manchester City’s recent history under Pep Guardiola. What began as another promising campaign for the Sky Blues has transformed into a season of missed opportunities, defensive fragility, and questions about the club’s direction. At the heart of these struggles lies a pattern that has become increasingly concerning: Manchester City’s inability to close out matches when they hold commanding positions.
The Real Madrid Heartbreak: A Microcosm of City’s Season
The Champions League encounter against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium perfectly encapsulated Manchester City’s problems this season. What should have been a triumphant evening, with City taking a 2-1 lead against the reigning European champions with just minutes remaining, instead became another chapter in a growing narrative of late-game collapses that have plagued Guardiola’s men throughout the campaign.
The match began with the kind of intensity and quality football that Manchester City supporters have come to expect from their team in European competition. From the opening whistle, City looked determined to make a statement against Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid, pressing high and creating numerous chances in the final third. The breakthrough came through their talisman Erling Haaland, who continues to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise turbulent season.
Haaland’s opening goal was a masterclass in clinical finishing, expertly converted following a brilliant assist from Joško Gvardiol. The Croatian defender, who has been one of City’s more consistent performers this season, delivered a perfectly weighted cross that found Haaland in space inside the penalty area. The Norwegian striker’s first touch was sublime, bringing the ball under control before unleashing a powerful strike that gave Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois no chance.
The goal seemed to inject renewed confidence into the City squad, and for a period, they played with the kind of fluidity and precision that had made them so dominant in previous seasons. However, as has become a recurring theme this season, City’s inability to maintain their intensity throughout the full ninety minutes would prove costly.
Real Madrid, with their wealth of experience in European competition and their never-say-die attitude, gradually worked their way back into the match. The equalizer came from a moment of individual brilliance that reminded everyone why Madrid remains one of the most feared teams in European football. Despite City’s best efforts to maintain their lead, the Spanish giants found a way to level the score, setting up a tense finale at the Etihad.
City’s response to conceding the equalizer was immediate and emphatic. They were awarded a penalty after a clumsy challenge in the Madrid penalty area, and once again, it was Haaland who stepped up to restore City’s advantage. The penalty was taken with characteristic confidence, driven low and hard into the bottom corner, giving City a 2-1 lead that seemed to put them in complete control of the tie.
With less than five minutes remaining on the clock, Manchester City appeared to be on the verge of a statement victory that would have silenced critics and potentially kickstarted their season. The Etihad Stadium was alive with expectation, and there was a sense that this could be the moment when City’s season finally turned around. However, what followed was a sequence of events that would haunt the club and its supporters for weeks to come.
The turning point came from an unexpected source: goalkeeper Ederson, who had been one of City’s most reliable performers over the years. A poor kick-out from the Brazilian, who seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball under pressure, presented Real Madrid with an opportunity that they seized with both hands. The mistake led directly to Madrid’s equalizer, a goal that not only leveled the score but also seemed to drain the confidence from the entire City team.
The psychological impact of conceding such a soft goal at such a crucial moment was immediately apparent. City’s players, who had been in complete control just moments earlier, suddenly looked uncertain and anxious. The defense, which had been relatively solid throughout the match, began to show signs of the fragility that has plagued them throughout the season.
With the score tied at 2-2 and the clock ticking toward full-time, both teams pushed for a winner. However, it was Real Madrid who would have the final say. In the dying seconds of the match, a defensive lapse that seemed to epitomize City’s struggles this season allowed Jude Bellingham to ghostly glide through the City defense and score a dramatic winner that silenced the Etihad Stadium and left Manchester City players and supporters in stunned disbelief.
A Pattern of Collapse: The Numbers Don’t Lie
The defeat to Real Madrid was particularly devastating because it represented the fifth time this season that Manchester City had lost a match in which they had been in a winning position. This statistic is not just concerning—it’s alarming when placed in historical context. Over the previous four seasons combined, Manchester City had experienced the same number of such defeats, highlighting just how dramatic their late-game struggles have become under Guardiola’s watch.
This pattern of surrendering winning positions has become the defining characteristic of City’s season, and it raises serious questions about the team’s mental fortitude and tactical approach in crucial moments. Under Guardiola, Manchester City had built a reputation for being ruthless in closing out matches, often adding to their lead rather than simply defending it. The current team’s inability to maintain that killer instinct has been perhaps the most surprising aspect of their struggles.
The psychological impact of these repeated collapses cannot be understated. Each time City surrenders a winning position, it becomes harder for the players to maintain confidence in crucial moments. The fear of another collapse seems to creep into their play, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that has haunted them throughout the campaign.
From a tactical perspective, these late-game struggles suggest that Guardiola’s approach to game management may need reassessment. The Spanish coach has always favored an attacking philosophy, even when holding leads, but this season’s results suggest that a more pragmatic approach in certain situations might be necessary. The question remains whether Guardiola is willing to adapt his philosophy to address these specific weaknesses.
The Broader Context: City’s European Ambitions in Jeopardy
Manchester City’s struggles this season are particularly concerning given their ambitious goals in European competition. Over the past seven seasons, the club has established itself as one of the premier forces in the Champions League, consistently reaching the latter stages of the competition and finally achieving the ultimate prize with their victory in the 2022-23 season.
However, this season’s performances have put their European ambitions in serious jeopardy. The defeat to Real Madrid, coupled with their inconsistent domestic form, has raised questions about whether City can maintain their status as one of Europe’s elite clubs. The trip to the Bernabéu for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie now presents a mountain that seems almost insurmountable given their current form and confidence levels.
The challenge facing Manchester City is not just about tactics or personnel—it’s about rediscovering the mental strength and resilience that made them so successful in previous seasons. The team needs to find a way to regain the confidence and composure that allowed them to dominate English football and compete at the highest level in Europe.
The Phil Foden Conundrum: A Star’s Unexpected Decline
Amid Manchester City’s collective struggles, perhaps no individual situation is more emblematic of the club’s current predicament than the decline of Phil Foden. The English midfielder, who once seemed destined to become one of the greatest players in Manchester City’s history, has endured a season that has raised serious questions about his development and future role at the club.
Foden’s rise to prominence within the Manchester City setup had been nothing short of meteoric. Coming through the club’s academy system, he had always been regarded as a special talent, but it was his performances in the 2022-23 season that truly announced him as one of the brightest stars in English football. His recognition as both the PFA Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year was a clear indication of his immense potential and his importance to the City squad.
During that remarkable season, Foden demonstrated an ability to influence matches that belied his young age. His technical skills, vision, and versatility made him one of the most valuable players in Guardiola’s system. Whether deployed as a central midfielder, winger, or attacking midfielder, Foden seemed to thrive in every position, showcasing a football intelligence that suggested he could become one of the best English players of his generation.
However, this season has told a completely different story. Foden’s form has dropped off significantly, with a noticeable decline in both his goal-scoring and assist-making abilities. The spark that made him so dangerous in attacking positions seems to have dimmed, and his decision-making in crucial moments has become increasingly questionable.
The most telling sign of Foden’s struggles came in the Real Madrid match, where he started the game on the bench—a position that would have been unthinkable for a player who had been one of the first names on the team sheet in previous seasons. When he was introduced in the 30th minute, replacing an injured teammate, there was hope that his introduction could provide the creative spark that City needed to break down Madrid’s defense.
While Foden did manage to win a late penalty after being fouled by Dani Ceballos, his overall performance was underwhelming and lacked the incisiveness that had made him such a threat in previous seasons. His touches were heavy, his passes lacked precision, and he seemed to struggle to find the rhythm that had made him so effective in the past.
This is not an isolated incident. Throughout the season, Foden has struggled to find his rhythm and has looked increasingly frustrated with his performances. The question that many are asking is whether this is simply a temporary dip in form or a more concerning sign of a player who may have peaked earlier than expected.
The Guardiola Factor: Questions About Management
Pep Guardiola’s role in Manchester City’s struggles cannot be ignored. The Spanish coach, who has been synonymous with the club’s success over the past several years, now faces perhaps his greatest challenge since arriving at the Etihad Stadium. His tactical approach, man-management skills, and ability to adapt to changing circumstances are all under scrutiny.
Guardiola’s decision to allow several players to leave the club in recent years has come under particular scrutiny as many of these players have gone on to achieve success elsewhere. The question of whether City’s decision to let these players go was a mistake has become a recurring theme in discussions about the club’s current predicament.
The coach’s handling of Phil Foden’s situation is particularly interesting. Guardiola has always been known for his ability to develop young players and get the best out of them, but Foden’s decline this season raises questions about whether the manager’s approach is still effective. The decision to start Foden on the bench against Real Madrid, while tactically justifiable, also sends a message about the player’s current standing within the squad.
The Transfer Market: Missed Opportunities and Future Planning
Manchester City’s struggles have also highlighted some questionable decisions in the transfer market. The club’s failure to adequately replace key players who left in recent years has left them with a squad that lacks depth in crucial positions. The over-reliance on certain players, particularly Haaland in attack, has become increasingly apparent as the season has progressed.
The club’s approach to squad building has always been methodical and strategic, but this season’s results suggest that some reassessment may be necessary. The lack of adequate backup options in key positions has left Guardiola with limited choices when his first-choice players are unavailable or out of form.
Looking ahead, Manchester City will need to make some significant decisions about their squad composition. The question of whether to persist with players like Foden, who are clearly talented but struggling for form, or to look for alternatives in the transfer market will be crucial to their future success.
The Psychological Challenge: Rebuilding Confidence
Perhaps the most significant challenge facing Manchester City is the psychological one. The repeated late-game collapses have clearly affected the team’s confidence, and rebuilding that mental strength will be crucial to their recovery. The fear of another collapse seems to be affecting the players’ decision-making in crucial moments, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.
The club’s sports psychology team will need to work closely with the players to address these mental challenges. Building resilience and confidence in high-pressure situations is not something that can be achieved overnight, but it will be essential if City is to return to their previous levels of performance.
Looking Forward: The Path to Recovery
Despite their current struggles, Manchester City remains a club with enormous resources and potential. The challenge now is to identify the root causes of their problems and implement solutions that can restore them to their previous levels of success. This will require honest assessment from all levels of the organization, from the boardroom to the training ground.
The remainder of the season will be crucial in determining whether City can salvage something from what has been a disappointing campaign. The Champions League tie against Real Madrid represents both a challenge and an opportunity—a chance to prove that they can still compete at the highest level when the stakes are highest.
For Phil Foden, the coming months will be particularly important. The young midfielder needs to find a way to rediscover the form that made him one of the most promising players in English football. Whether he can do so at Manchester City or needs a change of scenery remains to be seen, but his future will be closely watched by football fans around the world.
Manchester City’s season of struggles serves as a reminder that success in football is never guaranteed, regardless of resources or past achievements. The challenge now is to learn from these setbacks and emerge stronger, ready to compete once again at the highest level of the game.
