Manchester City suffered another disappointing defeat, falling 2-1 to Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday. Villa’s goals came from Jhon Duran and ex-City academy player Morgan Rogers, leaving the visitors with no response until Phil Foden’s late consolation goal.
The loss extends City’s alarming slump, marking their ninth defeat in the last 12 matches across all competitions. Aston Villa, on the other hand, managed the game comfortably, showcasing their growing confidence under Unai Emery.
PUNDITS’ TAKE:
Peter Crouch expressed his disbelief at City’s lackluster performance on TNT Sports, labeling them “a shell of the team they were.” He criticized the team’s lack of urgency, calling the match a “routine” win for Villa.
“There was no desperation to win. It felt like another loss was coming. Kevin De Bruyne sat on the bench the whole match. It felt strange not to bring him on when they needed a spark.”
Former City defender Joleon Lescott added that City’s aura of invincibility has faded:
“Teams used to need luck to beat City, but now they deserve the wins. That’s the worrying part. It’s going to get harder for them to recover the longer this slump continues.”
CITY’S STRUGGLES:
Manchester City’s typically dominant playing style has been absent during this run, with defensive lapses and an inability to finish chances becoming regular issues.
Lescott suggested that opponents have sensed weakness in the reigning champions, gaining confidence in the process:
“When teams smell blood, it boosts their belief. City need to create some luck and rediscover their edge.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
City must now regroup for their next fixture against Everton on Boxing Day. The reigning champions sit sixth in the Premier League table, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
The pressure is mounting for City to turn things around quickly to salvage their season and reestablish their dominance.
