Last August, Manchester City began the year with the hope of recapturing the Premier League title and improving on their finish in the Champions League. It seemed as though all the pieces were in place. The sky was the limit for this team. So where did it go so wrong?
What went wrong for Manchester City
The 2015/16 campaign started magnificently for Manchester City, reeling off five straight wins. What’s more impressive was that those wins were all clean sheets for Joe Hart and the back four. Everything was going perfectly in every area of the team.
Rumours soon began to circulate that Manuel Pellegrini, Man City’s current skipper, would be replaced at season’s end by Pep Guardiola. It was when these rumours started that the Citizens’ momentum seemed to start losing pace. Players were suddenly not as sharp, passes became sloppy and the effort was simply not there.
Everything began to look eerily similar to the 2012/13 campaign which subsequently saw Pellegrini replace then-manager Roberto Mancini. Despite only winning eight of their next 18 Premier League matches, City were still in second place behind Leicester City come February 1st. Deadline day brought the end to all the rumours and speculation about the manager’s future. It was now official: Guardiola would become the club’s new coach.
Pellegrini addressed the media and was honest and forthright about the news. He let it be known that nothing was done behind his back, that he supported the club’s decision and wished Pep all the best. He also said that his plans for the rest of the year would not change; he would approach each match with the intent to play attacking, entertaining football.
The first-team players for Manchester City seemed to want to approach the final months of the year much the same as their boss. However, when the stars actually took to the pitch it was a much different sight to behold. There was less energy than before the announcement, passes were sloppier and the lack of interest seemed to spread like a virus amongst the players.
City have won just six matches in the league since the start of the February. They were eliminated from the FA Cup, their goals have dwindled, the defence is makeshift at best and to make it all the worse, they are now in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League next year.
Champions League success is why Guardiola is being brought in to replace Pellegrini, the man who led the club to its first ever Champions League semi-final. To rub salt into the wound, with this sharp decline in form, many of the first team are now involved in rumours about leaving the club come summer.
Manchester City have played mid table football at best since new management was announced and now their European future is in the hands of rivals Manchester United. So, it begs the question again. Was this the correct time to make this colossal move?
