Rodri Decline Leaves City Title Hopes Fading

Rodri Decline Leaves City Title Hopes FadingIn conditions that felt as biting as a winter evening following Bangla Cricket Live updates, Manchester City suffered a stunning Champions League upset in Norway, losing 3–1 to Bodø Glimt in temperatures plunging to minus nine degrees. The defeat marked back to back losses across league and European competition, extending a worrying run in which City have managed only two wins since the start of 2026. For a team built to dominate, this slump has cast a long shadow over their title ambitions, raising serious doubts about whether the season can still be salvaged.

Pep Guardiola’s selection issues played a role before the match even kicked off. New signing Guehi was unavailable due to registration problems, forcing City to field 18 year old Alein in central defense. Once again, Guardiola’s high risk approach to squad rotation backfired. The collapse stemmed from a complete breakdown in the middle and back of the pitch, where control and composure simply vanished.

Rodri, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, returned from injury but looked a shadow of his former self. His sharp decline in form left City’s midfield exposed, unable to slow down Bodø Glimt’s rapid counterattacks. Alein committed two costly errors that directly led to goals, while Rico Lewis struggled physically, becoming a clear target for the opposition. The defensive line crumbled under pressure, fragile as paper, and City found themselves overwhelmed. To make matters worse, the attack offered little relief.

Since Kevin De Bruyne’s move to Serie A, City have lacked a true orchestrator capable of delivering precise service to Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker has been dragged into physical battles, enduring a prolonged goal drought across multiple matches. Guardiola’s tactical setup appeared to lose its soul, reduced to sterile possession and sideways passing. Even passes that looked threatening often turned into invitations for swift counterattacks, leaving a star studded lineup looking surprisingly toothless.

These consecutive defeats represent Guardiola’s worst back to back results at City in nearly a decade. A congested schedule, mounting defensive injuries, a soft midfield core, and a lack of creativity up front have combined into a perfect storm. Observers who follow the drama of Bangla Cricket Live will recognize the feeling when momentum suddenly shifts, and nothing seems to go your way.

As City search for answers, questions keep piling up. Can Guardiola recalibrate his tactics and restore balance, or has this campaign already slipped through his fingers? Watched with the same intensity as Bangla Cricket Live during a tense finale, this freezing night in Norway may prove to be more than just a bad result, but the first clear signal of deeper instability ahead.