Rodri Returns but City Still Searching for Premier League Form

After dominating English football with six league titles in seven years, Manchester City’s stuttering start to the new campaign has raised real concerns about their ability to reclaim the Premier League crown, Sport360NG reports.

Last season was dismissed as an anomaly, City ending without silverware for only the second time under Pep Guardiola. The club pointed to distractions such as the 115 charges from the Premier League, questions over Guardiola’s long-term future, and a lengthy injury to midfield lynchpin Rodri. Heavy investment followed, with more than £330m spent across two transfer windows to freshen the squad. The expectation was a return to their relentless best.

So far, the evidence suggests otherwise.

Sunday’s dramatic 2-1 defeat at Brighton left City with their worst league start since 2004-05. No team has ever won the Premier League after beginning a 38-game season from such a position. Even with Ballon d’Or winner Rodri restored to midfield and Erling Haaland finding the net again, Guardiola’s side appear fragile.

Inconsistency Strikes Again

City opened the season by sweeping Wolves aside 4-0, sparking optimism that the hesitancy of last year had been banished. Yet their collapse at Brighton mirrored the same vulnerability that dogged them in 2023-24.

Haaland marked his 100th league appearance for the club with his 88th goal to put City ahead, but a bold quadruple substitution by Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler turned the contest. James Milner converted a penalty before Brajan Gruda struck a stoppage-time winner, leaving Guardiola to lament another missed opportunity.

“We were excellent for one hour,” Guardiola said afterwards. “But when we conceded, we stopped playing. It’s still early in the season, but we must improve.”

Only Manchester United’s 1992-93 team have rebounded from two defeats in their opening three fixtures to win the title, and that came in a 42-game season.

Rodri’s Long Road Back

City’s decline last year coincided directly with Rodri’s knee ligament injury, which sidelined him for eight months. His return is vital: the team had gone 49 league matches unbeaten when he started before losing to Brighton.

But the Spaniard warned against unrealistic expectations.

“I’m not Messi, I can’t just come back and make the team win every game,” he admitted. “I need to regain my best level, but it’s about the whole squad raising our standards. Some of the mistakes we make are too basic.”

Tactical Flaws Exposed

Analysts have highlighted City’s pressing structure as a weakness. Their high press, combined with full-backs pushing forward aggressively, has left space down the flanks. Both Tottenham and Brighton exploited this, pulling full-backs out of position and forcing centre-backs into uncomfortable wide duels. It’s a tactical puzzle Guardiola must solve quickly if City are to stabilise.

Haaland the Bright Spot

If there is one source of encouragement, it is Haaland’s sharpness. After a relatively muted second season by his lofty standards, the Norwegian already has three goals in as many league outings. With Rayan Cherki sidelined for two months through injury, City’s attack will rely heavily on Haaland’s form.

The champions now turn their attention to the Manchester derby on 14 September. They do so trailing their old rivals, an outcome few would have predicted when the campaign began. Unless Guardiola can rediscover the control and ruthlessness that defined his best City teams, talk of another title challenge may soon look far-fetched.