Manchester City has long been the standard-bearer of dominance in English football, with Pep Guardiola’s side clinching four consecutive Premier League titles and completing a historic treble in the 2022-23 season. However, the current campaign has been a stark contrast to the heights the club has previously reached. As we approach 2025, Manchester City finds itself sitting seventh in the Premier League with only eight wins from 17 games, which raises serious questions about the team’s consistency, depth, and overall performance.
1. Midfield Void: Rodri’s Absence and Lack of Depth
One of the biggest challenges for Guardiola’s side has been the noticeable gap in midfield. Rodri, arguably the most pivotal figure in City’s engine room, has been instrumental in the club's dominance over the past few seasons. The Spanish midfielder has long been a lynchpin, offering defensive stability while also driving the attack with his excellent passing range, vision, and physical presence. His role has been integral to City’s tactical balance and ability to control games, allowing the attacking players to focus on creating and converting chances.
However, Rodri’s absence through injury this season has exposed a significant vulnerability. Without him in the middle, City has struggled to maintain their usual dominance. While Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, and Mateo Kovacic have all been tried in the holding midfield role, none have been able to replicate Rodri's unique blend of attributes. Gundogan, now at Barcelona, was particularly adept at adding creativity from deeper positions, but there has been no adequate replacement for his and Rodri’s contributions. In fact, Guardiola has had to rely on Silva as a makeshift defensive midfielder in key matches, including losses to Aston Villa and Liverpool, further underscoring the lack of depth in this crucial position.
The club’s failure to invest in a short-term replacement for Rodri during the summer transfer window has amplified the problem. While long-term targets such as Martin Zubimendi and Bruno Guimarães were reportedly considered, City’s preference for long-term solutions has left them vulnerable in the short term. The midfield void has given opponents the chance to exploit City’s weaknesses, particularly in matches where Rodri’s leadership and tactical discipline would have made a difference.
For Manchester City to continue competing at the highest level in 2025, it’s imperative that they address this issue. Bringing in a versatile midfielder who can partner with or deputise for Rodri is no longer just a luxury but a necessity. Without reinforcing this area of the squad, City’s hopes of regaining the Premier League title or advancing in European competitions could be seriously jeopardized.
2. Goal-Scoring Decline: Haaland’s Solo Effort
Another area where Manchester City has struggled this season is in their goal-scoring efficiency. Despite boasting one of the most prolific strikers in world football, Erling Haaland, City’s attack has been less potent than in previous seasons. Haaland, with 13 goals to his name, continues to deliver at a high level, but there has been a concerning decline in the overall quality and frequency of chances being created for him.
In their last nine Premier League games, City has scored just 10 goals, a drastic drop compared to their usual high-scoring output. This lack of firepower is particularly noticeable when you consider that City has always been a team that thrives on a fluid and dynamic attacking system, with multiple players contributing to the scoreline. In past seasons, players like Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling were regularly on hand to chip in with goals, creating a balanced and unpredictable attack. However, with both players now gone, City has found it difficult to replicate that level of attacking depth.
Jack Grealish and new signing Savinho, who were expected to step up and help Haaland shoulder the goal-scoring burden, have struggled to produce consistent results. Grealish, while a creative force on the ball, has not been able to match the goal-scoring impact that Mahrez and Sterling had during their time at the club. Similarly, Savinho’s contributions have yet to make a significant impact in terms of goals or assists.
This over-reliance on Haaland has made City’s attack more predictable. Opponents know that if they can shut down Haaland or limit the service he receives, they have a good chance of stifling City’s attack. Haaland’s expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes have dropped this season compared to previous years, which suggests that the team is not creating as many high-quality chances for him as before.
To overcome this issue, Manchester City must rediscover the attacking fluidity that made them so dangerous in the past. They need to create a more balanced attack, where contributions come from multiple players across the pitch. This might involve tactical adjustments to allow Grealish and other attacking midfielders to get more involved in goal-scoring situations, as well as a renewed focus on creativity from the full-backs.
3. Conclusion: What Manchester City Must Do in 2025
In summary, Manchester City’s 2024-25 season has been marked by two significant challenges that Pep Guardiola and his staff must address in the coming months. First, the absence of Rodri and the lack of depth in midfield has left a critical gap in City’s tactical setup. They need to recruit a player capable of filling that void, whether by partnering with Rodri or providing reliable cover when he is unavailable. Second, the decline in goal-scoring efficiency, despite having one of the world’s best strikers in Haaland, suggests that City must find ways to diversify their attack. This could involve improving the supply lines to Haaland, getting more goals from midfield, and ensuring that other attacking players step up to share the load.
With the right adjustments, Manchester City can overcome these hurdles and continue to be a dominant force in English and European football. However, the window of opportunity is closing, and if Guardiola is to mount a serious title challenge in 2025, these issues must be addressed with urgency and precision.
