Mid-January, the Etihad Campus. Before Tottenham’s visit a discontented Pep Guardiola is addressing a Manchester City team meeting that includes Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Ederson. The champions are in second place, eight points behind Arsenal, each having played 18 games.
Performances have dipped and so has the attitude of his players. The final match before the World Cup was a 2-1 home defeat by Brentford. Since the tournament, City have beaten Leeds and Chelsea, drawn with Everton and lost their previous outing, 2-1 at Manchester United. Seven points from 15 is not championship-defending form and, when being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Southampton is factored in, Guardiola can see City’s campaign derailing.
