Manchester City’s frailties were visible once again on Tuesday evening as they let a 2-0 lead slip to draw 2-2 with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
It was goalless at half-time but there were a few signs that Pep Guardiola’s side were rediscovering a bit more of their attacking fluency, though they still looked vulnerable at the back.
It was a once-familiar combination that eventually gave City the lead, Kevin De Bruyne bending in a perfect cross for Phil Foden to guide home. The same player made it 2-0 with 12 minutes remaining, only to see Yoane Wissa pull one back for the hosts five minutes later. City attempted to see the game out but an injury time header from Christian Norgaard gave Brentford a point and everyone a reminder that there are still plenty of things to fix with the defending champions.
Sam Lee breaks analyses the key moments from the match.
Another painful lesson
Just as things were starting to look up for City, the reality of their situation was spelled out yet again. Now, City were not perfect here by any means, which is probably to be expected because there is no silver bullet for their problems, it is not something which can or will be fixed by one result or tactical tweak.
They can only make small steps forward and that is more or less what was happening: they were lucky to have not conceded before they did, but also looked dangerous when attacking with speed (which was probably no consolation for Guardiola, who hates chaos).
Their previous league victories against Leicester and West Ham were not perfect, nor would this have been, but it would have been a victory nonetheless, and one that somehow would have brought targets like a Champions League finish into sight. It would have been a small step forward.
But, yet again, they go away needing to pick themselves up off the floor and look at how they can do things better. You wonder how many times they can keep doing it and with a truly dreadful run of fixtures coming up (including Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham, Liverpool) it is hard to cling to any of the positives that actually were on display.
(Clive Rose/Getty Images)
But City effort cannot be faulted
Look, it might not sound like a lot but at the very least the City players were trying. They were fighting and running and giving it everything, which is notable for a couple of reasons.
First of all, there have been times in recent weeks, notably after the defeat at Aston Villa, when the players have been accused of not trying by some supporters, but also because crises like the one that City are either living through or leaving behind them (remains to be seen) are often caused by players getting worn down by their predicament and do actually throw in the towel.
(Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
For all of City’s problems at the end of 2024 and to a lesser extent in 2025, they have never actually seemed like they were not trying, it was just that they were exhausted and usually outplayed. Perhaps energised by only playing two games in a fortnight, and one against a League Two team, the City players battled and scrapped here — Erling Haaland was struggling with a knock for a while but it did not stop him getting on the end of a goal kick and getting into the customary manhandling.
De Bruyne stormed up the pitch for one first-half rampage, Josko Gvardiol stormed back the other way to stop a dangerous break, Foden dropped into his area to clear the danger. Little things, maybe, but if City are to get through the next patch of very difficult games, they are going to need everything to come together.
Signs of form from Foden and De Bruyne
It would not have been Guardiola’s idea of a perfect victory because such a thing would never involve so many counter-attacks, but one positive to take forward, once the dust settles, is that City were certainly at their most threatening when there was space to run into.
Unfortunately they were also at their most vulnerable, which is why Guardiola will never embrace a transitional game. Nevertheless, with Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho and Haaland on the pitch they had dynamism and pace, and they got their goals by getting the ball forward quickly: a long goal kick up to Haaland started the move for their first goal, with De Bruyne whipping in a beautiful cross for Foden, and for the second Savinho won the ball high up and drove into the box; his shot was saved but both Foden and De Bruyne were there for the rebound — Foden narrowly winning the race.
(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
With better composure and execution they might have scored sooner on the break, with Matheus Nunes and Foden squandering chances to even have a shot after being played in, too. Brentford also had their chances, and this is hardly the blueprint that City will want to stick to, but there is something there if they need it.
What did Pep Guardiola say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Manchester City?
Sunday, January 19: Ipswich Town (A), Premier League, 4.30pm GMT, 11.30am ET
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(Header photo: Getty Images)
