Pep Guardiola’s Substitutions Under Scrutiny Amid Man City’s Late Collapse Trend

Manchester: So, what’s going on with Manchester City lately? They keep giving up late goals, and it’s becoming a real headache. Pep Guardiola has been asked about this a few times this season. It seems like they can’t hold onto their leads, especially against teams like Brighton, Feyenoord, and Brentford.

In the past, if they conceded one goal, it would send them into a bit of a panic. But they managed to shake that off over time, winning the Champions League and multiple Premier League titles. Now, though, it feels like that old habit is creeping back in.

Guardiola hasn’t really talked about the mental side of things, even though some players have mentioned it. Instead, he’s been focusing on injuries. With key players like Rodri and Ruben Dias missing, the team is stretched thin, and those on the field are more exhausted than usual.

Even with a week off for most players, the absence of specialists to defend a lead was felt. Guardiola pointed out that they could have managed the game better. He mentioned that they did well at 2-1 but struggled at 2-0.

Fans were grumbling about his substitutions during the Brentford match. Many thought bringing on Jack Grealish would have been a better move than Ilkay Gundogan. In previous matches, like against Brighton and United, the substitutions didn’t seem to help either.

Guardiola made a triple substitution against Feyenoord that backfired spectacularly, leading to three goals for the Dutch side. He claimed he saw no danger at that moment, but maybe he underestimated how fragile his team was.

The stats don’t lie: only Wolves and Aston Villa have conceded more late goals than City this season. Guardiola needs to figure out how to help his team manage games better. It’s a tough spot, and he has to ensure he’s got the right players on the pitch to get the job done.