Disclaimer: If you have no interest in soccer, “Move along, Betty”.

It would be inaccurate to say anything else: this is Manchester City’s worst season since Pep Guardiola was hired as their manager in the summer of 2016. 

I acknowledge that that is an extremely high bar. City became the first club in history to win four-consecutive top-flight English league titles when they won last season’s Premier League, narrowly edging out Arsenal for the second-straight year. In those four years, City also became just the second English club to ever win the coveted “treble”, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League—the latter being their first in club history—in the same season. 

Guardiola has managed City to six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four EFL Cups, a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup in his eight-plus seasons at the helm. He is one of the greatest managers in the history of world football, which is why a season like the one that the club is currently enduring is so shocking. 

It started well enough. The Blues won each of their first four Premier League matches, defeating Chelsea away, triumphing over newly-promoted Ipswich Town at home, traveling to London Stadium to secure a victory over West Ham, and then winning a home match against Brentford by a narrow margin. 

After a 0-0 draw at home against Inter Milan to commence their Champions League campaign, their fifth Premier League match was a home contest against Arsenal. This match, ultimately, would turn the tide of the season for the worse. 

It started quite well, as Erling Haaland opened the scoring just nine minutes in after  a pass from Savinho played him in between the defenders. Seven minutes later, though, disaster struck. City took a corner. Rodri, the best midfielder—and arguably the best footballer—in the world, went down with an injury as the ball was played into the box. The eventual 2024 Ballon d’Or winner for the best player in the world was clutching at his knee. The most irreplaceable player in the Manchester City squad was down on the pitch in pain. 

Rodri was subbed off in favor of Mateo Kovačić, and Arsenal scored less than a minute later to equalize. The Gunners would take the lead, 2-1, and would hold it until the 98th minute, when substitute defender John Stones would equalize for City to rescue a point. The result was massive, but the concern was for the club’s talisman who had scored the only goal in their Champions League final victory over Inter in the summer of 2023. 

Rodri was diagnosed with a torn ACL, which was the worst possible outcome (excluding structural/nerve damage). Pep would have to deputize other players to fill the gaping chasm in the defensive midfield that Rodri’s absence left. 

Nothing really worked. They held on for a while, drawing away at Newcastle and winning five-straight matches in all competitions against Slovan Bratislava (UCL), Fulham (PL), Wolves (PL), Sparta Praha (UCL), and Southampton (PL). Eventually, though, the void swallowed them whole. 

A five-match losing streak in all competitions followed that five-match winning streak. It became a stretch of one win in twelve games. They surrendered a 3-0 lead in the final fifteen minutes at home against Feyenoord in the Champions League. They were blanked 4-0 at home by a Tottenham side that, frankly, leaks goals. They gave up two goals in the final three minutes of normal time in the Manchester derby against the worst United team in their club’s history. 

What do you do when you cannot figure out how to win games? Spend money, obviously. When the January transfer window opened, Pep did not waste a ton of time. He signed two defenders: Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens and Vitor Reis from Palmeiras. He also signed Omar Marmoush, a forward from Eintracht Frankfurt, who had 24 goal contributions in the first half of the season. 

Where was the midfielder to replace Rodri, though? Where was the player to steady the sinking ship? Where was the fulcrum to balance the attack and the defense? Where was the nucleus?

Yesterday’s match finally broke the dam. A 5-1 loss to Arsenal during which City were embarrassed in every facet saw them make a midfield signing today. They triggered the €60 million release clause for FC Porto player Nico González, a 23-year old Spanish international who can play both defensive and central midfield. 

Is it too late? For the Premier League title, it has been too late for a few months. The Champions League is also very difficult, with their play-in opponent being the mighty Real Madrid. However, this move is necessary to qualify for next year’s Champions League tournament, as this is the first season in recent memory where they will not be a sure bet for a top-four finish in the Premier League. 

Looking ahead, the schedule is brutal. After a weekend FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient, City’s next fixtures are as follows:

• Real Madrid (home)
• Newcastle (home)
• Real Madrid (away)
• Liverpool (home)
• Tottenham (away)
• Nottingham Forest (away)

Those are six extremely difficult games in succession. Adding a stabilizing influence in the middle of the formation may be the only way that the Blues can stay afloat during such a miserable span. 

Have a good week.