- Manchester City's struggles continued with a 2-0 Champions League loss to Juventus, leaving their top-eight hopes in jeopardy
- City's upcoming matches against PSG and Manchester United will test their ability to turn their season around
- Pep Guardiola defended his team's performance, emphasising how better their control and style of play was despite the result
Manchester City’s terrible run of form continued on Wednesday, December 11, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.
Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie condemned the reigning Premier League champions to yet another disappointing result, leaving their hopes of a top-eight finish in the Champions League hanging by a thread. This latest loss means Pep Guardiola’s side has now won just one of their last ten matches across all competitions.
City entered the game with so much determination, knowing a win was vital for their Champions League survival. Despite a promising start, their lacklustre finishing haunted them once again. A rare first-half highlight came when Kevin De Bruyne delivered a sublime pass to Erling Haaland, but Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio pulled off a crucial save to deny the Norwegian striker.
Juventus capitalised on City’s defensive lapses after the interval. Dusan Vlahovic broke the deadlock, outpacing the City defence and slotting the ball past Ederson, who could only watch as it trickled over the line. The Italian side, emboldened by the goal, maintained their composure and struck again. Substitute Timothy Weah orchestrated a swift counterattack, setting up Weston Mcennie for a decisive second goal.
City dominated possession but failed to translate it into meaningful chances, with Juventus resolute in their defensive structure. Guardiola’s men pushed forward desperately in search of a comeback, only to be caught out by Juventus’ pacy counterattacks.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola dismissed claims that defensive errors were the cause of their defeat. Instead, he pointed to the lack of precision in the final third as the main factor,
“We miss the last pass, not arriving in the six-yard box and penalty spot many times, we are the best, I love my team, the way we play.”
Looking ahead, Manchester City face a daunting Champions League clash against PSG, where failure could see them exit the competition before the knockout stages. Meanwhile, a challenging Manchester derby looms in the Premier League, adding to the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side.
Manchester City must regroup and rediscover their attacking rhythm soon, or risk their season further becoming worse. For now, Guardiola’s trust in his team remains unshaken, but results will need to align with this optimism.
“I don’t believe in the charges,” Arsène Wenger on Manchester City’s trial
Previously, TheRadar reported that the ongoing legal battle involving Manchester City and the Premier League over 115 alleged financial breaches has gripped the football world.
As the charges hearing stretches on, Arsène Wenger has shared his thoughts, calling for a complete overhaul of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Wenger argued that the current system in the Premier League is outdated and in dire need of reform.
