Decoding Manchester City's Unanticipated Slump in 2024-25 - A Comprehensive Player Analysis

The 2024-25 football season saw the unexpected crumbling of the Manchester City empire that Pep Guardiola crafted. The team's fall from grace was as surprising as it was dramatic. Having previously dominated English football longer than any other team in history, their descent was a spectacle in world football. The season started promisingly, with City winning seven out of their first nine league games, hinting towards a fifth-successive title. However, a defeat at Bournemouth, their first in almost a year, triggered a chain of losses. From November to December, City lost six out of eight league games, effectively handing over the title to Liverpool after a disappointing loss at Anfield. City also struggled with the revamped Champions League format, barely making it through the league phase before being soundly defeated by their long-term rival, Real Madrid, in the knockout play-offs. This marked their earliest exit from the competition in over a decade. A possible failure to qualify for the next season's competition loomed, however, City held their nerve and clinched seven wins out of their final 10 games to secure a third-place finish with 71 points. This was a significant drop of 20 points from their previous season and marked Guardiola's worst performance in his tenure. Despite reaching the FA Cup final, they were defeated by Crystal Palace in a game reflecting their overall disappointing campaign. This article offers a thorough assessment of the players from a season that Manchester City fans would rather forget.