Against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium Manchester City had to scrap and claw their way to a precious 1-nil win. While Andoni Iraola’s side deserves credit for unsettling the treble winners it does appear that Pep Guardiola’s side is beginning to appear tired after playing so much football this season. But despite this, the Manchester City squad appears determined to fight until the end in their bid to create history.
Pep Guardiola’s side has already played 40 games in all competitions this season. It has been a hectic schedule for the world champions. On top of their usual commitments, the champions have featured in the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. Their extra commitments this season are a legacy of last season’s treble success. Manchester City also had a busy campaign in the 22/23 season as they created history. The effect of so much football on the City squad may not be known until the end of this campaign. At times this season, the treble winners have appeared jaded after such a busy calendar.
During the past two 1-nil wins for Manchester City, they have been forced to scrap and fight their way to crucial wins. The usual free-flowing football associated with the treble winners has been replaced by a dogged determination to get the result required. While Brentford and Bournemouth deserve credit for their performances it does come across that fatigue is beginning to hit Pep Guardiola’s side. But if they are tired they will fight until the end this season which was on display yesterday at the Vitality Stadium. City dug in and came away with a precious three points against a determined opponent.
What Manchester City are doing isn’t normal
Speaking following his team’s precious win Pep Guardiola was quick to remind everyone that what his players are achieving isn’t normal. He was full of praise for his team. Guardiola said: “The expectations are so high. What they have done for many years with a lot of games and many things. And always you believe they will fall down and won’t continue to do it, they surprise me. I tell them ‘it’s not normal’. For many many years we are three days. Bournemouth had seven days to prepare one game. Seven days dreaming every second the one week to beat the best team in the world.”
It would be natural for the Manchester City squad to be tired after such a busy calendar for the past 18 months. But they are determined to create even more history this campaign. If they are to defend the treble or win a fourth consecutive Premier League title it could go down as their greatest achievement during Pep Guardiola’s reign at the club. They are determined to fight until the end season and that was abundantly clear come the final whistle at the Vitality Stadium yesterday.
