4/10 Ratings! Manchester City’s Collapse Continues as Guardiola Left Devastated Amid Villa Park Taunts

In Premier League Round 17, Manchester City suffered yet another blow, falling 2-1 to Aston Villa at Villa Park. For Pep Guardiola, the reality is undeniable: his team has lost its aura of dominance. Post-match ratings from the Manchester Evening News painted a grim picture, with six players receiving a dismal score of 4/10. City’s recent form has been abysmal, losing eight of their last 11 matches across all competitions and failing to win any of their last seven away games, recording just one draw and six defeats.

Tactical Tweaks Fail to Deliver

Guardiola made significant changes to his starting lineup for the trip to Villa Park. Kyle Walker, often a source of controversy this season, was benched, with Rico Lewis stepping in at right-back. Kevin De Bruyne also started on the bench, leaving Phil Foden to assume the central playmaking role.

Villa, however, approached the game with a clear tactical plan. Their defensive shape was compact, with midfielders Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara working tirelessly to intercept and disrupt City’s rhythm. When transitioning to attack, Youri Tielemans’ incisive passes set the stage for Ollie Watkins and Jhon Durán to exploit City’s high defensive line.

City’s aggressive playing style, characterized by their defenders pushing high up the pitch, left them vulnerable to Villa’s counterattacks. In the 16th minute, Tielemans’ through ball sliced through Mateo Kovačić and John Stones, setting up a two-on-one situation that Durán capitalized on to open the scoring.

Villa’s second goal in the 65th minute was eerily similar. Watkins carried the ball from deep, bypassing a sluggish Walker, who had come on as a substitute. A quick pass to John McGinn, followed by a perfectly weighted layoff, allowed Watkins to finish clinically past Ederson.

Villa Park Echoes with Taunts

As Villa surged to a 2-0 lead, the 40,000 fans at Villa Park erupted into chants aimed at Guardiola. The mocking refrain of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” filled the stadium, a stark reminder of City’s sharp decline. Guardiola, visibly frustrated, could do little to change the course of the game.

City’s midfield lacked defensive solidity, their wingers failed to create meaningful chances, and their backline was repeatedly exposed. Guardiola introduced Savinho and Jérémy Doku late in the game, sacrificing his double pivot of İlkay Gündoğan and Kovačić in a desperate bid for an equalizer.

Although Foden managed to pull one back in stoppage time, it was too little, too late. The final whistle confirmed another defeat for the reigning champions.

Defensive Frailties and Systemic Issues

City’s defensive struggles have been glaring. In their last eight matches across all competitions, they have conceded at least two goals in each game. Over their last 12 matches, they have shipped a staggering 27 goals while losing nine times. Since October, they have failed to secure a single victory, a drought that underscores their systemic decline.

Guardiola’s frustration was evident throughout the match. When Villa scored their first goal, he looked visibly dejected. By the time Watkins added the second, Guardiola’s body language—throwing his arms up, crouching down, and covering his face—spoke volumes about his despair.

Player Ratings Reflect the Malaise

The Manchester Evening News delivered scathing ratings for several City players:

• Rico Lewis (4/10): Played both as a right-back and left-back but was repeatedly outpaced and outmaneuvered.
• John Stones (4/10): Pushed too high up the pitch, leaving gaps that Villa exploited. Substituted at halftime, possibly due to injury.
• Manuel Akanji (4/10): Returning from injury, he looked slow and off the pace.
• Joško Gvardiol (4/10): Villa found joy down his left side, where he struggled to contain their attacks.
• İlkay Gündoğan (4/10): Invisible for much of the match, failing to influence proceedings.
• Bernardo Silva (4/10): Largely ineffective on the right flank, overshadowed by Villa’s more energetic and intelligent players.

A Steep Decline

After winning four consecutive Premier League titles, Manchester City now find themselves teetering on the brink of collapse. With just 27 points from 17 matches, they sit in sixth place, far from the title race and even struggling to secure a top-four spot.

Guardiola’s City faces an uphill battle to salvage their season. The dominance that once defined them seems like a distant memory, and unless drastic changes are made, their hopes of reclaiming glory may fade entirely.