Manchester City’s four-straight Premier League titles have come to an end, and the spark that once inspired such dominance has disappeared over the past two months. A group of players who once found excellence so easy to come by now look like they’re battling a chronic lack of self-confidence.
Bernardo Silva scored the opener against Everton, but also missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0. Silva’s rushed and panicked shot came after Pep Guardiola’s serial winners were criticized for their recent performances. The team’s struggles have infected almost everything, from the manager’s frustration to the players’ anxiety.
Erling Haaland missed a second-half penalty as City stretched their miserable run to just one win from their past 13 games in all competitions. Even the double Golden Boot winner seems to be suffering from self-doubt. Haaland’s penalty was his only shot on target, and it was saved by Jordan Pickford.
Guardiola acknowledged that his players are struggling with mental resilience after the penalty miss. Counterpart Sean Dyche said City is getting heavily questioned for the first time, but he still has respect for Guardiola’s team. Dyche believes City will eventually open someone up, but for now, they need to work hard to avoid giving their opponents opportunities.
Guardiola hopes that a few of the eight senior players missing against Everton will be back when City travel to Leicester on Sunday. He also prays that the January transfer window can offer solutions to some of his problems. However, repairing the self-belief of his players might be harder to achieve than filling gaps in the dressing room with Sheikh Mansour’s money.
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43167815/man-citys-aura-invincibility-shattered-even-erling-haaland-affected