Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are facing a crisis of momentum, with their second halves turning into a serial problem that is threatening to derail their title challenge. The club has struggled to maintain its usual level of intensity and aggression, particularly in the final 30 minutes of games.
A closer look at the data reveals a concerning trend. In the six league games since the New Year fixtures, City have dropped 11 points, compared to Arsenal's seven. Aston Villa, Liverpool, Fulham, and Everton are not far behind, with each team conceding multiple points in their second halves. This is not just a matter of fatigue; it's also a tactical issue that has been affecting City for some time.
The introduction of former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders has brought an aggressive high press to the team's gameplan. While this approach was always at the heart of Guardiola's Total Football philosophy, its implementation is proving to be a challenge. The pressure and intensity required to maintain such a style are taking a physical and mental toll on the players.
The results show it. City have been conceding crucial goals in the second half, often when leading comfortably at halftime. This has led to a loss of control and composure, as the team struggles to regain its footing after a period of dominance. The once- reliable offside trap has become less effective, leaving City exposed to counter-attacks.
The statistics are stark: if games ended at halftime this season, City would be leading the title race by 12 points, having lost just twice. But start games in the second half and City would be eighth, 13 points behind the leaders. Their second halves are a staggering 19 points worse than their first halves.
This trend is not unique to City; it's a broader issue affecting several top teams in the Premier League. However, for City, this problem has the potential to derail their title challenge. They feel as likely to slip up as Arsenal, and the pressure on them is building by the day. Can they regain their momentum and style, or will the ghost of the "snakebitten second half" continue to haunt Pep Guardiola's men?
A closer look at the data reveals a concerning trend. In the six league games since the New Year fixtures, City have dropped 11 points, compared to Arsenal's seven. Aston Villa, Liverpool, Fulham, and Everton are not far behind, with each team conceding multiple points in their second halves. This is not just a matter of fatigue; it's also a tactical issue that has been affecting City for some time.
The introduction of former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders has brought an aggressive high press to the team's gameplan. While this approach was always at the heart of Guardiola's Total Football philosophy, its implementation is proving to be a challenge. The pressure and intensity required to maintain such a style are taking a physical and mental toll on the players.
The results show it. City have been conceding crucial goals in the second half, often when leading comfortably at halftime. This has led to a loss of control and composure, as the team struggles to regain its footing after a period of dominance. The once- reliable offside trap has become less effective, leaving City exposed to counter-attacks.
The statistics are stark: if games ended at halftime this season, City would be leading the title race by 12 points, having lost just twice. But start games in the second half and City would be eighth, 13 points behind the leaders. Their second halves are a staggering 19 points worse than their first halves.
This trend is not unique to City; it's a broader issue affecting several top teams in the Premier League. However, for City, this problem has the potential to derail their title challenge. They feel as likely to slip up as Arsenal, and the pressure on them is building by the day. Can they regain their momentum and style, or will the ghost of the "snakebitten second half" continue to haunt Pep Guardiola's men?
, their second halves have always been a bit sloppy, but now everyone's making a big deal about it. It's like they're trying to change who they are as a team - Total Football was all about being adaptable and adjusting to the game situation, not just sticking rigidly to one style of play. And yeah, maybe this high press isn't working out, but what's the alternative? Sitting back and letting teams come at them all game long? That's not Pep Guardiola's style at all... 
... i mean pep guardiola is a genius but sometimes u gotta adjust ur strategy right? like introding this new high press tactic is cool and all but its taking a toll on the team mentally & physically 
... cant have the players burnin out mid game lol 
... what do u think tho? should city just stick with what they know & trust the stats or take a risk & try somethin new? 
Their second halves have been super inconsistent and it's affecting their title chances. I mean, 19 points worse in the second half compared to the first is huge! 
They need to figure out how to maintain that level of intensity throughout the game. Lijnders' high press is a great idea, but maybe they need to work on it some more? 
... if only they could regain their composure and confidence, I think they'd be back in title contention in no time 
. Pep Guardiola's team is feeling the burnout factor, just like an old car that needs some TLC 
. Time and again, they're struggling in the second half, losing control and composure 
. Can't wait to see how they bounce back from this slump! 
. It's like trying to put out too many fires at once, you gotta know when to hold back and let your team recover. The data doesn't lie, City's second halves are struggling, but that don't mean they should give up hope... it just means they need to take a step back, recharge and come back stronger 
. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is not to attack it head-on, but to take a deep breath and let your team figure it out for themselves 
i mean, 11 points in 6 games is wild. they used to be unbeatable, but now it feels like they're just going through the motions. the high press is great and all, but if it's causing them so much stress, maybe pep needs to rethink his gameplan 
️. I'm not saying Lijnders is bad, but maybe he needs to tone it down a notch and let City find their groove again 
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, struggling to match the intensity of the first 45 minutes 
. They're dropping points and it's not just about tired legs 
. The high press is still an awesome thing 
I hope so, 'cause City can't afford to slip up now 
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. I mean, who needs a 2-1 win when you can get 3-0? 