Pep Guardiola is going through his most challenging moment at Manchester City. Despite the quality of his squad, the team is not having a good time in the Premier, where it currently occupies fifth place. Additionally, next weekend, City suffered a crushing defeat against Arsenal by 5-1, which has heightened the crisis.
The team doesn't seem to find the necessary consistency, something unusual in Guardiola's teams, which have always been known for their tactical dominance. The defeat against Arsenal once again exposed all the defensive shortcomings and a lack of offensive effectiveness that is concerning.
Real Madrid will face Manchester City; Barça is already qualified
Meanwhile, the situation in the Champions is also delicate for Manchester City. In the preliminary phase of the round of 16, Guardiola will face none other than Real Madrid, one of the strongest and most historic teams in Europe.
This matchup could mean an early elimination for City, which would make Guardiola's season even more complicated. Real Madrid is a very difficult opponent to overcome, and Manchester City's lack of rhythm in the league could negatively affect their performance in this crucial European clash.
Pep has already made three signings
In an attempt to reverse the situation, Manchester City has moved quickly in the transfer market during this January. The club has signed three players: Omar Marmoush, Khusanov, and Vitor Reis. These players, who have arrived with the intention of strengthening the squad, are expected to provide the extra quality to improve performance.
Marmoush, a versatile forward, should offer more options in attack, while Khusanov and Vitor Reis are expected to provide solidity and depth. Guardiola trusts that these new signings will help his team improve their performance and face the challenges of the Premier League and the Champions League.
City makes a final signing that benefits Barça
Additionally, in the last hours of the market, Manchester City has intensified its interest in Nico González. The English team is willing to pay 60 million for his transfer, a figure that demonstrates City's interest in strengthening the midfield before the market closes. Barcelona, which owns 40% of a future sale of Nico, would benefit considerably if this operation is completed.
In this case, Barça would receive 24 million for their percentage of the sale, an important financial injection that could be used for future signings.