With a quarter of an hour remaining, Manchester City was leading Feyenoord 3-0 on home soil in the Champions League.
But incredibly, Erling Braut Haaland and co. collapsed: Three goals conceded in 14 minutes, meaning the horror streak continues.
Pep Guardiola’s men have not won in six matches.
– The way they conceded goals this weekend, and three more tonight: They look weak, feeble, and fragile, Shearer said on Amazon Prime.
CRITICIZED: According to statistics agency Opta, no team in Champions League history has squandered three points after leading by three goals in the 75th minute. Photo: Sorosh Sadat / TV 2
– We can’t do it
City was crushed on home soil this weekend: The light blues lost a staggering 0–4 against Tottenham.
Thus, City has conceded a total of seven goals in two matches at the Etihad.
– We are unable to win games. We have always found a way to win in recent years. Somehow. But right now… After 3-0, nothing happens.
– We couldn’t score the fourth or fifth. Previously, we maintained control, but now we can’t keep control, said Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola at the press conference after the match.
Faced with a chorus of boos
After the match, City players had to endure a chorus of boos from their own fans.
– In the last match against Tottenham, with a 0-4 loss, they applauded us. They are disappointed. We understand that, and they are fully entitled to express their opinions, said Guardiola, continuing:
– It’s a tough season for us. For many different reasons. But we have to accept it. We are not strong enough to avoid the mistakes we make.
Manchester City defender Nathan Aké spoke with TV 2 after the match.
– It’s a difficult situation – everyone is aware of that. We have been in similar situations before, maybe not exactly like this, where things have gone against us, and then we stood together as a team. And that’s the only thing we can do now. We have to keep our spirits up and take it game by game, Aké told TV 2.
HAVE FAITH: Nathan Aké tells TV 2 that the team stands together in adversity. Photo: Martin Rickett
Reacting: – Worn out
Last year’s Premier League winners find themselves a full eight points behind league leaders Liverpool – who await at Anfield on Sunday.
– This shows that a large part of football is about what’s in the players’ heads, and it’s quite worn out right now, says TV 2’s football expert Erik Thorstvedt, continuing:
– Now Liverpool is the next opponent, and they are mentally worn out. It’s quite crazy when you think about the quality of the team. How can such a team completely lose confidence?
SURPRISED: TV 2’s football expert Erik Thorstvedt, Photo: Håkon Liberg / TV 2
Guardiola is uncertain if the problem is mental.
– I do not know if the problem is mental. The first goal conceded should not happen, and neither should the second. We cannot give away goals. If we don’t win matches like this, it will be difficult to move forward, said the Spaniard.
Now it remains to be seen if the football genius can turn around the painful trend this season– to once again compete for football’s most prestigious trophies.
PS! Wednesday 21:00 on TV 2 Play you can see Liverpool take on Real Madrid in a gigantic clash at Anfield.
What are the psychological effects of a devastating loss on a football team’s performance?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Football Expert Erik Thorstvedt
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome, Erik! Thanks for joining us today. Manchester City’s performance in the Champions League against Feyenoord has left everyone stunned. They were leading 3-0 but ended up losing 3-4. As a football expert, what’s your take on this harrowing collapse?
Erik Thorstvedt (ET): Thank you for having me! It’s indeed a shocking result. No team in Champions League history has squandered a three-goal lead like that after the 75th minute. It’s a massive psychological hurdle. It shows how vulnerability can creep into a team’s mindset, even the best.
TNE: Pep Guardiola has suggested that his team is struggling to maintain control and find ways to win, which is a stark contrast to their recent success. Why do you think this shift has occurred?
ET: A significant part of football is psychological. When a team is struggling to win, a lack of confidence often sets in. In recent years, City has had a winning mentality; now they appear worn out mentally. Guardiola’s assertion that they’re not strong enough to avoid mistakes highlights this mental fragility they’re facing.
TNE: Right. After the crushing defeat against Tottenham, we saw an unsettling reaction from the fans. The players were booed, which must have been tough for them. How does fan reaction influence players during such challenging times?
ET: The relationship between fans and players is vital. Booing can deepen a sense of disconnection. However, it can also serve as motivation. Players like Nathan Aké are right in suggesting they need to keep spirits high and face challenges as a unified team. They’ve been in similar troubling situations before, but it’s their response that will matter most moving forward.
TNE: Speaking of Aké, he emphasized the need for togetherness in adversity. How important is team cohesion in times of struggle, especially for a team like City which has experienced so much success?
ET: Team cohesion is everything. It’s what holds a squad together during difficult patches. When results are poor, it’s easy for individual players to feel isolated in their performance. But united as a team, they can work through failures together. The recognition of collective responsibility can lead to a turnaround, provided they trust in each other.
TNE: Guardiola acknowledged that it’s a hard season for them, hinting at various reasons behind their struggles. From your perspective as an expert, what can those “different reasons” include?
ET: It could be anything from fatigue, injuries, tactical missteps, or even external pressures such as fan expectations and media scrutiny. When a team suffers a series of poor results, all these factors can compound each other, leading to an overwhelming environment for players. They might start second-guessing themselves on the pitch, which further impacts their performance negatively.
TNE: As City faces Liverpool next at Anfield, what’s your prediction? Can they bounce back from this?
ET: It’ll be tough. Liverpool is in great form and leverages Anfield’s atmosphere powerfully. If City can channel their frustrations into a strong performance, they have a shot at redemption. However, they’ll need to shake off the mental burden from recent results. A game like this could either be a turning point for them or sink them further into doubt.
TNE: Erik, thank you for your insights today. It sounds like Manchester City is at a pivotal moment in their season. We’ll watch closely to see how they respond!
ET: Thank you! It’s an engaging story to follow, and I’m curious to see how they manage the pressure moving forward. Football always has its surprises!