The European top five leagues have seen some unexpected matches, especially the double losses of Manchester City and Barcelona, which really surprised many people. The state of Manchester City this season has made people worry for them, and the same goes for Barcelona, which was once firmly at the top but now has become a backdrop for others. The successive defeats of these two superpowers make people feel that anything can happen in today's world. Who would have thought?
Okay, let's not rush to complain. Today, we will talk about the two major surprises of Manchester City and Barcelona, and then discuss the three uncontested facts in the football world right now. Are you ready? Let's start with these two laughable matches.
Manchester City's three consecutive defeats, the disappointment of the Premier League defending champion
Last night's performance by Manchester City, oh my, really makes people want to say: are you playing football or giving points to your opponents? As the defending Premier League champion, Manchester City lost 1-2 away to Aston Villa, welcoming their third consecutive defeat. Throughout the game, you almost couldn't see the Blue Moon that once dominated the Premier League. The scene seemed a bit disoriented at times.
Haaland, Foden, Silva, these famous players stood on the field one by one, as if they were waiting for the opponent to create opportunities for them, rather than showing their own power in return. Honestly, the current situation of Manchester City really feels like it is gilded on the outside but decayed within. The consecutive defeats of Manchester City make people doubt whether this team has started to consume its previous glorious records?
The glory of four consecutive championships seems to have become a thing of the past, and people no longer look so favorably upon them. Initially, everyone thought they should be the favorites for this season's championship, but now, looking at their results, it's really hard to flatter them. What's even more interesting is that Haaland in Manchester City's lineup, worth 200 million euros, lives like a decoration on the field - without a single shot on target throughout the game, not even a successful dribble. Seriously, this also makes people doubt whether Haaland can really hold up the offensive banner of Manchester City alone.
To be fair, Manchester City's tactics seem to be stuck. They used to rely on that set of passing and controlling tactics, but this tactic seems to have been cracked by other teams, and Manchester City has slowly fallen into depression.
Barcelona's drop from the top, the La Liga leader suffers a reversal
On the other side, Barcelona isn't doing much better. At the beginning of the season, they were simply invincible, with an impressive record of eight consecutive victories in all competitions, including seven consecutive victories in La Liga. The team's momentum was like a raging storm, as if they were crazy about football. Who would have thought that in the last seven rounds of matches, Barcelona only managed to get 1 win, 2 draws, and 4 losses, directly dropping from the top spot. The good days after the coaching change seem to have come to an end.
Especially in the match against Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, who was leading 1-0, was surprisingly defeated by Atletico in the dying seconds, losing the top spot, which is really astonishing. In these few rounds of poor performances, especially in the match against Atletico, Barcelona was actually reversed by the opponent, leaving many fans asking: what happened to you?
Especially Barcelona's offense, which feels like an invisible blade, although they dominate the field against Atletico, they always lack a decisive shot. Last season's Barcelona wasn't like this! Fans also expressed that although there were some changes in tactics after the coaching change, such a plummeting trend really gave everyone a slap in the face.
Three undeniable facts revealing the current state of football
First, let's talk about Haaland. This super-talented player worth 200 million euros is expected by everyone to become the attacking force point of Manchester City, but it can be seen that his threat is more based on the cooperation of the midfield. Without strong midfield support, Haaland's offense becomes somewhat ineffective. In this game, he didn't have a single shot, which is really disappointing. It can be said that the problem of Manchester City now is not only the cooperation in the offensive end, but more importantly, the limitations of Haaland's individual combat. This point has become a hidden danger in Manchester City's attack. Haaland is indeed very strong, but if the players around him do not provide enough support, then he can only become a castle in the air. Fans have high expectations for him, but facing such unsatisfactory performances, they will still be disappointed.
What does Simeone's Atletico rely on?
Next, let's talk about Atletico Madrid under Simeone. Simeone, this iron coach, is never short of controversy, but his achievements are solid. Although Atletico's financial problems cannot compare with Real Madrid and Barcelona, Simeone's leadership of the team has already become an achievement that cannot be ignored. Recently, Atletico has won 12 consecutive victories, just one short of the team's longest winning streak record. The success of this Atletico is by no means accidental. Besides Simeone's tactical arrangements, the addition of the two new signings, Alvarez and Sorloth, has really injected new vitality into the team. The team's chemistry is getting better and better, especially the tacit cooperation between the newcomers and the veterans, directly making other strong La Liga teams feel the pressure. If Atletico can maintain this state, the battle for the La Liga championship will become more and more interesting.
Pep Guardiola's dilemma, should the tactics be adjusted?
Let's talk about Pep Guardiola, the coach of Manchester City. Guardiola is recognized as a master of football tactics, and his passing and controlling style of play has helped Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City achieve brilliant results. However, this tactic seems to have been figured out by other teams, and Manchester City has gradually fallen into difficulties. The team's state is becoming more and more volatile, especially when facing mid-to-lower table teams, Manchester City often lacks the overwhelming advantage they had before. Guardiola has been coaching Manchester City for nine years, and people can't help but ask: can he lead this team out of trouble? Judging from the current situation, Manchester City seems to have lost its direction. If Guardiola cannot adjust his tactics in time, Manchester City may miss the championship of this season.
Netizen comments, three different perspectives
Some netizens commented: Manchester City's three consecutive defeats really surprised many people. Who would have thought that this former Premier League giant would be so low-key now? No matter how strong Haaland is, it's useless. He plays like a lone fighter. Without the support of Manchester City's midfield, how can he break through? This view actually reflects a problem, that is, there is an obvious rift between Manchester City's tactical system and the cooperation among players. Another netizen thinks: The decline of Barcelona is really surprising. After the coaching change, their initial performance was like being injected with chicken blood, but after these seven rounds of matches, their state is like going backward. Especially in the match against Atletico, that match was really a pity. This netizen pointed out the sudden loss of control of Barcelona, especially their performance in critical moments, which is simply unbelievable. Another fan expressed: Simeone's Atletico is getting stronger and stronger, which is really impressive. Although they are not as well-funded as Real Madrid and Barcelona, Simeone's tactics and the cooperation of the players have made Atletico stronger and stronger, and they might even surpass Barcelona and Real Madrid to compete for the La Liga championship. From this comment, it can be seen that the rise of Atletico has become a new focus in La Liga, and Simeone's success cannot be ignored. A fan jokingly said: If Guardiola doesn't adjust his tactics, Manchester City's consecutive defeats might become the norm. After all, he is not invincible in tactics, and people have gradually figured him out. The viewpoint raised by this netizen poses a severe challenge to Guardiola's tactical adjustments.