Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola suffered a fifth straight defeat for the first time in his managerial career as the club’s crisis deepened following a heavy 4-0 home defeat by Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.
The game also ended City’s 52-game unbeaten home run.
There was a celebratory mood around the Etihad Stadium before kick-off as City midfielder Rodri showed off his Ballon d’Or trophy on the pitch.
James Maddison struck twice in seven first-half minutes before Pedro Porro rubbed salt in the wounds of his former club and Brennan Johnson completed the rout.
City’s first defeat on home soil from open play since the eve of the 2022 World Cup leaves them still five points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who play their game in hand at bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Sunday.
Guardiola has committed himself to turning around the poorest run of his managerial career after extending his contract until 2027 this week.
But hopes his new deal could revitalise a City side, that have won an unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles, proved short-lived.
Guardiola, who joined City in 2016, said: “In eight years we have never lived this kind of situation.
EPL: Arsenal whip Nottingham Forest as Chelsea defeat Leicester
“Now we have to live it and break it winning the next games, especially the next one. Now we see things in one way, maybe in a few weeks we see it differently.
“We started really well as normal but we could not score and then after that we conceded. After that, we conceded some more which is difficult for our emotions right now.”
Rodri paraded his Ballon d’Or trophy to the home fans before kick-off as his name was lit up across the Etihad pitch by firelight in an ostentatious show of support for the Spanish midfielder.
The 28-year-old is not expected to play again this season after suffering knee ligament damage in September and his absence has been at the heart of City’s demise.
A 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich before the international break saw Tottenham slip to 10th in the table.
But they have now twice won comprehensively in Manchester after a 3-0 win over United at Old Trafford.
A daunting trip to face Liverpool at Anfield is next up in the Premier League, where City have not won in front of a crowd since 2003.
- Christmas: Let’s be instruments of peace, Uba Sani urges Christians - December 25, 2024
- Tinubu felicitates Christians on Christmas, says Nigeria on path of restoration - December 24, 2024
- Court sends oil magnate to prison for diverting $26m refinery fund - December 24, 2024
