Man City will do something nobody expected - it was unthinkable just months ago

Man City will do something nobody expected - it was unthinkable just months ago

Manchester City are facing a fight to secure a top five finish and a spot in next season's Champions League.

Manchester City have been regulars in the top two in the Premier League in recent seasons

Manchester City's dramatic win against Aston Villa lifted them into third place in the Premier League - for a few days, at least.

The Blues struck late to secure a 2-1 victory and move a step closer to securing Champions League football next season. They are guaranteed to end the week in the top four as their focus turns towards an FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest.

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Rescuing Champions League football will be something for City to take from what has been a poor campaign by their usual lofty standards, even if they could end it with a trophy and a spot in the top three.

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Whatever happens in the closing weeks of the campaign, City are going to fall short of a top two finish for the first time since 2017. Since the autumn the Blues have been off the pace but as the season got under way plenty felt Pep Guardiola's men would win a fifth straight top flight title and those that didn't expected them to be the closest challengers to whoever did dethrone them.

No-one would have foreseen City's horrific run of nine defeats in 13 games - and just one win - between the Carabao Cup exit to Tottenham and the victory over Leicester City in the final game of 2024. City have struggled to string together wins since then and remain locked in a five-way battle for one of the three Champions League spots as we head into the final few matches.

In August, BBC Sport polled 30 pundits for their pre-season predictions and 29 of them had City in the top two with the one who didn't - Fara Williams - tipping them for third. Nineteen had Guardiola's men winning the league with the remaining 11 opting for Arsenal. No-one imagined City being so far off the pace, and no-one imagined Liverpool being the team to topple them.

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"Psychologically, City seem to have this edge which has been built up over the past few years where, when the going gets tough, they seem to thrive on it," said Chris Sutton ahead of the campaign.

Steve Sidwell added: "City have the hunger and desire to go again, not only within the squad but with the manager too. I believe they will be relentless this season."

There were concerns, with many wondering whether allowing Julian Alvarez to depart for Atletico Madrid was a wise choice while others questioned the lack of a Rodri alternative, with former City man Nedum Onuoha pointing out the long-term questions that would need solving.

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"They will still be just as good but through the season they will have questions that need to be answered about Kevin de Bruyne and Ederson's futures then, at the end of it, Pep Guardiola - does he stay or does he go?" said the former Blues defender. We know the answer to two of those questions now but the squad concerns which many thought could hamper City have come to the fore in dramatic style with an unprecedented injury crisis hardly helping matters.

"With Alvarez going to Atletico Madrid, City have sold one of the players who was used as back-up for Erling Haaland, but ended up playing quite a lot of football and was very reliable," said Theo Walcott, with Glen Murray agreeing. "I felt like Alvarez was reliable and also picked up a lot of slack for Haaland when he wasn't playing well or scoring," said the former top flight striker.

"He gave City added firepower and, without him, I am thinking who is going to do that job? In previous seasons, before Haaland joined, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez stepped up but it is asking a lot for Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku to provide those extra goals."

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Leon Osman added: "City finishing second is a statement that doesn't seem to fit right. They will maintain their standards, but with no cover as things stand for the brilliant Rodri, and a reliance on him to play all their games, that may take its toll."

Take its toll it did. Rodri was ruled out for the season in September, City have been without their first choice defence for almost all of the campaign and several players have seen a stark drop-off in form.

It prompted Guardiola to act in the January window and he will seek further signings in the summer. How will the next 12 months unfold? Only time will tell.

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