Pep Guardiola (foto: Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola ties his worst-ever defeat with a 4-0 loss to Tottenham, marking the fourth such result in his career and extending City’s losing streak to five games.
Pep Guardiola, one of the most successful managers in football history, is not used to heavy defeats. Leading teams built to dominate, he rarely leaves the pitch with his head down. However, last night’s 4-0 loss to Tottenham was an extraordinary low, not only marking Manchester City’s fifth consecutive defeat but also tying Guardiola’s worst-ever margin of loss as a manager.
A rare and unwanted milestone
The defeat against Tottenham joins a small but infamous list of matches where Guardiola’s teams have been beaten by four goals. The first such instance came in April 2014, when his Bayern Munich side lost 0-4 at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals.
The second came during his early days at Manchester City, a 0-4 defeat to Barcelona in October 2016, followed by another 4-0 loss to Everton in January 2017. Now, Tottenham has added their name to this rare list, further establishing themselves as Guardiola’s most problematic opponent.
Tottenham: Guardiola’s kryptonite
No team has caused Guardiola more pain than Tottenham. Last night’s victory was Spurs’ ninth win against Guardiola-led teams, more than any other club has managed. Spurs not only handed Guardiola one of his heaviest losses but also played a significant role in extending City’s five-game losing streak, the longest of Guardiola’s managerial career.
During this disastrous run, City has lost twice to Tottenham (in the League Cup and Premier League) and once each to Brighton, Bournemouth, and Sporting Lisbon.
A worrying trend for City
City’s current form is raising serious concerns. The defeat to Tottenham highlights defensive fragility and a lack of emotional resilience, as Guardiola himself admitted after the match. The 4-0 result is especially damaging for a club with ambitions to dominate both domestically and in Europe.
With a crucial Champions League match against Feyenoord on Tuesday and a daunting Anfield visit next weekend, Guardiola must quickly find solutions to prevent this slump from derailing City’s season entirely.
Historical context
While Guardiola’s heavy defeats are few and far between, they often come at key moments. The 2014 loss to Real Madrid ended Bayern’s Champions League hopes, while the defeats to Barcelona and Everton in 2016 and 2017 were early tests in his City tenure. However, this latest thrashing feels different, as it comes during a historically poor run for a manager accustomed to sustained success.