Manchester City's second-half struggles are undermining their Premier League title challenge, with the team dropping 11 points in six games since the New Year. This is not just a case of missing opportunities to extend their lead; it's also about squandering chances to gain ground on rivals like Arsenal.
The impact of City's mid-game meltdowns has been most pronounced against teams that were expected to be less of a threat, such as Chelsea and Brighton. In both cases, the Blues conceded goals in injury time or shortly after the interval. The pattern is similar with other top-four contenders, including Liverpool and Aston Villa.
While fatigue cannot be ignored, it's also clear that City have been adjusting their approach under new coach Pep Lijnders. Guardiola's teams have traditionally excelled at pressuring opponents, but this season's iteration seems to prioritize a high-intensity style of play over the more fluid Total Football that has always characterized City's philosophy.
As a result, City are struggling to regain possession quickly after losing it, and their midfield is being exposed by aggressive opposition presses. This shift in approach may be causing players to tire faster than they ever have before, which further contributes to the second-half woes.
The numbers tell a story of their own: if City had retained all seven points dropped this season from second-half concessions, they would be leading the league by 12 points and enjoying unprecedented pressure on Arsenal. Instead, the teams are now closer in the title chase than ever before.
City's struggles have also been driven home by their recent defeats against Tottenham, who scored twice in injury time to snatch a draw at Etihad Stadium. This defeat serves as a reminder that even when City dominate possession and territory, they can still concede goals late on.
The lack of control and consistency in their play has led to City feeling increasingly vulnerable, rather than invincible. As it stands, the title is still up for grabs, with Arsenal's lead over City now a mere six points.
The impact of City's mid-game meltdowns has been most pronounced against teams that were expected to be less of a threat, such as Chelsea and Brighton. In both cases, the Blues conceded goals in injury time or shortly after the interval. The pattern is similar with other top-four contenders, including Liverpool and Aston Villa.
While fatigue cannot be ignored, it's also clear that City have been adjusting their approach under new coach Pep Lijnders. Guardiola's teams have traditionally excelled at pressuring opponents, but this season's iteration seems to prioritize a high-intensity style of play over the more fluid Total Football that has always characterized City's philosophy.
As a result, City are struggling to regain possession quickly after losing it, and their midfield is being exposed by aggressive opposition presses. This shift in approach may be causing players to tire faster than they ever have before, which further contributes to the second-half woes.
The numbers tell a story of their own: if City had retained all seven points dropped this season from second-half concessions, they would be leading the league by 12 points and enjoying unprecedented pressure on Arsenal. Instead, the teams are now closer in the title chase than ever before.
City's struggles have also been driven home by their recent defeats against Tottenham, who scored twice in injury time to snatch a draw at Etihad Stadium. This defeat serves as a reminder that even when City dominate possession and territory, they can still concede goals late on.
The lack of control and consistency in their play has led to City feeling increasingly vulnerable, rather than invincible. As it stands, the title is still up for grabs, with Arsenal's lead over City now a mere six points.
they've always been this dominant force in the league but now it feels like they're struggling to keep up their usual game 
and yeah i get that pep's trying something new with his style of play, but does it have to come at such a cost? 
i mean think about all those chances they're squandering - if they just held on for a bit longer, maybe we wouldn't be having this conversation 
it's like city's been so good for so long that nobody expected them to stumble like this. now the title is anyone's game and i gotta admit, i'm loving the drama 
I mean, think about it... Manchester City's 2nd half struggles are kinda like when our school's math team doesn't do well on tests 
. They get ahead, but then they start to mess up and can't recover. They're not just losing points, they're also letting other teams catch up. And it's not just about missing chances, it's about not being able to maintain their high level of performance. Their coach Pep Lijnders is trying a new approach, but it's like when we try out a new math formula and it doesn't work out 
. They need to figure out how to regain control and consistency in their play... or else! 
I think City are paying the price for trying to be too aggressive on the pitch 
. Their usual style of pressuring opponents has been replaced with this high-intensity stuff that's just not working out 
. They're losing the ball in midfield and getting caught on the counter, which is really exposing their defense 
. And don't even get me started on those late goals conceded... it's like they're giving teams a free pass to win games 
. I mean, if they'd just stuck with what they know and loved, they might be in a much better position right now 
. I think they're underplaying their strength and relying too much on that high-intensity style of play. It's like they're not trusting each other as much as they used to, you know? That Total Football vibe was what made Guardiola's teams so special in the past. But this new approach is just leading to a bunch of mid-game meltdowns 
. But for now, it's anyone's game! 
pep's teams have always been known for being adaptable, but this season they're trying to cram too much into one strategy 
Manchester City's recent struggles are having a huge impact on their Premier League title challenge. Interesting how Pep Lijnders' new approach has changed their game plan from pressuring opponents to a high-intensity style... it's like they're playing with more aggression, but also giving away points in injury time 
. Can't let Arsenal get too comfortable up front! 
... it's like they're giving away games! I'm loving how tight the title race is now though, it's making it so much more exciting 
️!
i feel like city is having an identity crisis under pep lijnders, they used to be all about that high press and fluid football style but now it's like they're just going for a win at all costs 
they need to find that balance again or else they'll never be able to catch up to arsenal 
. They don't have to worry about City coming back at them. The gap is getting smaller and smaller 
. And you know what? I think that's kinda relatable. We all have those moments where we feel like we're losing our grip on things, but it's how we respond that matters. Can we find a way to refocus and come back stronger? That's the real question 
They're really struggling now. I think they need to go back to Guardiola's Total Football style and work on regaining possession quickly after losing it. Fatigue is definitely an issue, but it seems like they're also getting exposed by opponents who are pressuring them hard. Interesting how their recent defeats, like the one against Spurs, show that they can still concede goals late on 
. They're prioritizing high-intensity play but in doing so they're also burning themselves out quickly. It's like they're all trying to tackle everyone on the pitch instead of playing smart and waiting for the right moment to strike 
12 point lead would've been a lot to handle 
. It's like trying to put a square peg in a round hole - it just doesn't fit. And you can see it in their stats: conceding goals in injury time is becoming a problem 
"Press high! Press high!" 
- can't they just finish what they start? 
I mean, who doesn't love a good underdog story? 
especially with arsenal and liverpool in the mix, this is shaping up to be an epic season!