This season has not been easy for Manchester City. They’ve been trying to stay competitive in the Premier League, fighting for a top-five finish to qualify for next season’s Champions League. But they often feel as if they are always a little bit short of luck.
Guardiola and his players have fought hard, but the team’s performances seem less consistent. Sometimes, even when they played well, the results were not good. This state of affairs lasted for a while and even made people wonder if this once glorious team was really going downhill.
From March, however, things began to improve. Since then, Manchester City have won seven matches and drawn one in various competitions. One of those games was against Brighton, and although it was only a draw, it was one of the most promising games of the early part of the season. Back then, the fans were confident that there was still hope for this team.
Of course, not every game was an easy win. In the home game against Crystal Palace, for example, City were 2-0 down at one stage and almost looked set to lose. But at the crucial moment, De Bruyne stepped up and helped the team turn the situation around. From that moment on, City regained their familiar rhythm and momentum.
In recent weeks, manager Pep Guardiola has been pleased with his team’s new tactical approach. Although the team is not yet back to its best, its performances are getting closer to what they used to be. Back-to-back victories have seen City reach the FA Cup final and move closer to the top five. For the first time in weeks, they can look to the future with confidence and not worry about being overtaken by other teams.
This weekend’s fixture list is very favourable for City. The two teams currently above them meet on Sunday, while the two teams below them also meet. This means that whoever loses will give City a chance.
For example, if Arsenal lose to Liverpool at Anfield and City win the game, they can equal Arsenal’s points. Even better, City’s next opponent is Southampton, a team that has already been confirmed as relegated, a team that has almost no chance.
Even if Arsenal can inflict another defeat on Liverpool, the two teams directly behind them – Newcastle and Chelsea – will face each other at St. James’ Park. Both of these teams are now just one point behind City. If they draw, City will go three points clear; if one of them loses, City’s advantage will be even greater.
Also, Nottingham Forest have just beaten Leicester City at home and are looking up in form, while Aston Villa travel to Bournemouth, a team fighting for a European spot. So if I had to pick the ‘easiest’ game of the week, it would probably be either Forest or Man City.
It’s fair to say that City’s schedule is very much in their favour at the moment. While the fans may prefer to see them leapfrog Arsenal for second place, the reality is that City’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League are getting better and better with a few more wins of their own.
Regardless of how the rest of the team performs, City’s most important game is against Southampton. If they win, they only need one more point (say a win plus a draw) in the remaining two rounds of matches to secure Champions League qualification.
After the ups and downs of the season, Man City can finally take control of their own destiny. They no longer have to look at the faces of others, but can decide the final result with their own performance. For Guardiola and his team, this is a huge change and a return to form.
Perhaps all is not lost for them. As long as they stick with it and continue to play well in every game, City still have a chance to finish the season on a high.
