Tuesday, December 17, 2024 – 12:00 I by Editorial Staff
The sporting crisis at Manchester City is starting to have major consequences. After the painful 1-2 defeat to arch-rival Manchester United, the call for innovation within Pep Guardiola’s team is becoming louder. According to The Athletic, City must intervene urgently and Kevin De Bruyne is also in danger of becoming a victim.
Manchester City has had success for years with players like De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Ederson, but the current malaise shows that there is a need for rejuvenation. “What is becoming increasingly clear is that City must act decisively. As often happens with successful teams, the danger is that you hold on for too long to players who are approaching their expiration date,” he said critically.
De Bruyne in particular, who has been an undisputed strongman at City since 2015, is mentioned as a possible departure. With 397 games, 104 goals and 171 assists, he is one of the most successful players in club history, but his future in Manchester looks uncertain. His contract is expiring and an extension seems unlikely.
Uncertainty and Guardiola’s role
The fact that City did not make any major changes last summer was partly due to the uncertainty about Guardiola’s future. The Spaniard hesitated for a long time about a contract extension, which prevented the club management from taking rigorous action. Guardiola has now extended his stay until the summer of 2027. With that certainty, City can carry out the much-needed reorganization.
