Manchester City have not won in four games in all competitions.
Former player and current pundit Paul Merson believes that Manchester City will not win the Premier League title if Pep Guardiola does not adapt his team’s style of play, the Daily Star report.
Guardiola started his City career with an impressive 10 straight victories in all competitions, topping the Premier League table and recording a 2-1 win over rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
However, the decision to move Joe Hart out on loan and bring in Claudio Bravo as his replacement caused quite a stir, and the Chilean shot-stopper’s performances since have only raised further doubts.
City have not won in their last four matches in all competitions, and despite playing well as a unit in Barcelona in midweek they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat largely due to basic defensive errors.
Having shown defensive vulnerability with 10 goals conceded in their last four matches, Merson suggests in his column for the Daily Star that City will not win the league unless Guardiola changes his style.
“Manchester City will not win the league if Pep Guardiola keeps on playing like he is. They conceded three of the worst goals I’ve ever seen against Barcelona, it was embarrassing,” Merson wrote.
“He says he wants his teams to play from the back and he wants his keeper involved in that. But it’s not working. What was Claudio Bravo doing in this game? He is going to keep making mistakes if City keep playing this way. Teams will press them and go at him.”
City have played some of the best football in their recent history so far this season, with Everton boss Ronald Koeman labelling them his best-ever opponent as manager following the recent 1-1 draw.
But there is no doubt the Citizens have defensive frailties, and basic errors such as those in the 4-0 defeat to Barcelona will continue to be punished by the better players.
City face Southampton at home on Sunday, and it is a game they need to win to stop the so-called mini-crisis.
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