City have spent more than $500 million over the past 12 months to revamp their aging squad in a bid to regain their status as England’s best team.
Based on current evidence, this won’t be a quick fix.
advertise
Saturday’s 2-0 derby loss to Manchester United was followed by a surprise 3-1 loss to Bode/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday. Although the club continued its staggering spending in January with the arrivals of Antoine Semenho and Marc Gaehy, both games exposed City’s deficiencies.
Of course, injuries didn’t help. For example, Guardiola’s entire first-choice defense has been stripped away, with centre-backs Ruben Dias, Josco Gvardiol and John Stones all currently injured.
However, there are still flaws.
There is still no real backup for forward Erling Haaland, who could show the effects of missing almost a game. He has scored one goal in his last eight games – and it was a penalty.
advertise
Despite all the arrivals, City have yet to sign a right-back to replace Kyle Walker and so have been relying on midfielder Matheus Nunez to fill the void. Nunes has done a fine job – he is one of City’s most improved players – but is unlikely to be the long-term solution.
Guardiola’s decision to play virtually the same team in the final weeks of 2025 also highlights his lack of confidence in his substitutes, some of whom – such as Omar Marmouche and Rayan Ait-Nouri – were bought as part of a costly rebuild.
All this means that it is no longer an easy task for Manchester City to host Wolves, who are at the bottom of the Premier League. How could Manchester City’s performance last week be one of Guardiola’s worst performances at the club in ten years?
While Manchester City have won just two of their last seven games, Wolves have improved and remain unbeaten in their last five games.
advertise
City are second in the league going into matchday 23, seven points behind Arsenal, who have failed to capitalize on City’s recent problems in their last two league games, draws with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
key matchup
On Sunday, Arsenal host Manchester United, who will look to continue their excellent performance against Manchester City and potentially fight back again at the Emirates Stadium.
Third-placed Aston Villa, who are level on points with Manchester City, will travel to Newcastle.
Liverpool are seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City and Aston Villa ahead of their trip to Bournemouth.
advertise
Players to watch
Mark Ghey will be selected for his debut against Wolves due to Manchester City’s defensive crisis. Max Alleyne, a 20-year-old centre-back on loan from second-tier side Watford, should make way.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must decide who to play up front against Manchester United between Gabriel Jesus, who has returned from injury, and summer signing Victor Jakores, who has been the starting striker so far this season. Both scored in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Inter Milan.
stop action
Aston Villa’s unlikely title ambitions, or even attempts to qualify for the Champions League, have been dealt a blow by Boubacar Kamara’s knee injury, which could rule the defensive midfielder out for the rest of the season.
advertise
The France international was an unsung star for Villa, who missed Kamara badly when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in February 2024, causing him to miss eight months and forcing him to miss the European Championships.
Everton winger Jack Grealish is being assessed after a foot injury reportedly could rule him out for three months, dealing a blow to his hopes of returning to the England squad ahead of the World Cup.
off court
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank got some breathing space this week with their win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Previously, fans expressed their dissatisfaction with Frank during last weekend’s 2-1 league defeat to West Ham United by singing songs asking him to leave.
advertise
Saturday’s defeat to second-bottom Burnley is likely to reignite complaints about the Danish coach, who has only been in charge for seven months but has been criticized for his pragmatic tactics.
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer