Micah Richards: Manchester City's Struggles Come Down to Teamwork and Missing Key Players

Many Manchester City fans are concerned about the team’s recent performance, and Saturday’s fourth consecutive loss to Brighton has only increased those worries. Manchester City has officially entered what could be called a mini-crisis with the 2-1 loss. This is a difficult situation for manager Pep Guardiola, who has only lost four games in a row twice in his career. He will undoubtedly be thinking about this downturn during the international break since the team needs to find a way to start winning again.

The game against Brighton started very well for City, with Erling Haaland scoring early to give them the lead. However, the second half was a different story. Brighton came out stronger, controlling the game and taking advantage of more poor defending from City. Goals from Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley turned the match in Brighton’s favor, and City was left with yet another defeat. Fans were left frustrated, with many questioning why their team couldn’t hold on to their advantage.

One person who has weighed in on City’s current struggles is former player Micah Richards. Speaking after the game, Richards shared his thoughts on why City have been struggling lately. According to him, the biggest problem is that City have stopped pressing effectively as a team. Richards explained that in the past, City’s pressing game—where they try to win the ball back as quickly as possible—was one of their strengths. However, this season, they seem to be pressing individually rather than working as a unit. This makes it easier for the opposition to play through them and create scoring chances.

Richards also pointed out that losing Rodri, arguably the best midfielder in Europe, has had a huge impact on the team. He said that it’s always going to be difficult when you lose such an important player, and it’s clear that City has felt the absence of Rodri. Without him in the middle of the park, City has struggled to control games, and it has left them exposed in both attack and defense.

Richards praised the performance of teenage defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey against Brighton, despite the defeat. Guardiola also commended the young player, calling him “really good” during the game. Simpson-Pusey did, however, show potential, but City hasn’t been performing at their usual level. Richards feels that City are playing more like a group of individuals than a team, and this lack of cohesion is hurting them.

Without a doubt, City’s game has become less controlled and more chaotic. The passing and pressing aren’t as fluid as before, and some players seem uncertain or hesitant on the ball. Richards believes this is causing a breakdown in their usual style of play, and it’s something Guardiola will need to address if they are to return to their best.

As if things weren’t tough enough, Liverpool’s victory over Aston Villa on Saturday has made the situation even more urgent for Manchester City. With Liverpool now five points ahead, Guardiola has even more pressure to turn things around when the Premier League resumes after the international break. Arne Slot’s Liverpool side has made a very impressive start under his management, and many now believe they could be serious challengers for the title this season. This is not something that many expected after Jurgen Klopp left, but Slot’s tactics and the team’s form are making it clear that Liverpool are a force to be reckoned with.