Man City’s championship hopes diminish, Real Madrid faced with boos, Manchester United secures victory, and additional updates.
As the transfer window deadline approaches across Europe’s leading leagues, the weekend’s matches provided ample discussion points as last-minute transactions come into view. Notably, we may have witnessed a pivotal moment for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s title aspirations, as they squandered a 2-0 advantage against Tottenham, falling further behind Arsenal in the standings. In other Premier League news, Manchester United, under the guidance of Michael Carrick, secured their third consecutive victory with a dramatic win at home against Fulham, a result that marks a gradual recovery following the unsuccessful Ruben Amorim period.
In Spain, Kylian Mbappé once again emerged as Real Madrid’s savior in a lackluster home victory over Rayo Vallecano, a match that highlighted the challenges faced by interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa. Additionally, there are numerous topics to explore regarding Arsenal (who continue their impressive form), Liverpool (where the partnership of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz shines), Barcelona (whose dynamic offense is hindered by a shaky defense), Chelsea (who received a dose of Liam Rosenior’s candidness), Bayern Munich (who experienced a loss, indeed), and much more.
As Monday morning arrives, it’s an opportune moment for some reflections. Let’s delve into it.
– Ogden: Carrick or someone else? Man United must decide soon
– Olley, Dawson: Man City’s blown lead could end their title charge
– VAR Review: Man United’s disallowed penalty, more
Manchester City squander a two-goal lead at Spurs … is it time to talk about Pep?
His legacy in football is assured, and undoubtedly, Pep Guardiola has a lifetime position at Manchester City. However, the current situation cannot be overlooked. Although his team ranks second in the Premier League, they are on track to accumulate only 74 points this season, which would mark his second-lowest total since 2016, surpassed only by the unusual circumstances of last season.
We all acknowledged that last year was an anomaly: four consecutive losses for the first time in his career, just one win in eight matches between Halloween and Boxing Day, and the absence of Rodri due to a long-term injury, along with Phil Foden sidelined, among other issues. So, why does this season seem to be following a similar trajectory?
Could it be the significant squad changes, with six new first-team players (Rayan Aït-Nouri, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guéhi, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki) joining the ranks? Perhaps. The arrival of Pep Lijnders as an assistant coach to modify the pressing strategies? Possibly. Rodri’s recent return to fitness, not quite at his best? Likely. A defense that should have been revamped sooner, now missing two starters? Probably.
To varying extents, all these factors contribute. What is clear is that City are not the dominating force they were until the summer of 2024. They have not yet faced the horror show from last season’s November to December — although with the 2-2 draw against Tottenham, they now have just one league win in six, which is concerning — but they have consistently dropped points in a lackluster manner.
The match against Spurs illustrates this point. They comfortably established a two-goal lead — had it not been for an incredible save by Guglielmo Vicario from Rayan Cherki, it could have been three — and restricted the home team to three shots with an xG of 0.17. They appeared to be in control and could have easily increased their lead if necessary. However, after halftime, when Spurs elevated their performance, City did not respond. The lack of urgency and the late substitutions (the first occurring with twenty minutes remaining) indicated a lack of awareness regarding the potential threat, even at 2-1. Spurs’ unexpected goals changed the outcome.
I refer to “unexpected” because Dominic Solanke is unlikely to score a scorpion kick every week (or even every season). Furthermore, his first goal should not have counted: Marc Guehi obstructed him, and he kicked through Guehi’s leg. That would be a foul anywhere else on the field. Additionally, having three players wrestle Erling Haaland to the ground should warrant a penalty, regardless of whether the ball is in play. However, I made that argument last week. When you play conservatively and luck turns against you, it doesn’t take much to lose points.
play1:48Laurens: Thomas Frank is not the right man to manage Tottenham
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City and explain why Thomas Frank may not be the right manager to take Spurs forward.
Regarding Spurs, their comeback demonstrates that the players are capable of putting in the effort. However, drawing further conclusions is challenging. It’s difficult to assess Thomas Frank’s performance when he has only 13 outfield players to choose from. (Though it is fair to note that he has secured just one league victory in two months while employing erratic tactics, which typically leads to dismissal.) They are not in danger of relegation, nor are they likely to secure a European spot. Spurs might as well continue with him, hope to generate additional revenue from the Champions League, and prepare to initiate their search for a new manager if necessary.
Kylian Mbappe helps Real Madrid avoid dropped points, but not the Bernabeu boos
To be fair, no one short of Alfredo Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo combined could have quelled the boos on a day like this. Following the midweek Champions League embarrassment against Benfica, Real Madrid faced jeers before, during, and after the match. It is unsurprising that Vinícius was among the most criticized (due to his reported issues with former coach Xabi Alonso), and even his impressive early goal provided only a brief reprieve. The atmosphere is currently quite toxic, and it must be said that newly appointed Alvaro Arbeloa is not helping matters.
play2:39Laurens: There was a complete lack of effort from Real Madrid
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens analyze Real Madrid’s performance in their 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and discuss what needs to change within the squad.
The extra effort we thought we witnessed against Villarreal a week ago? Absent. To be fair, Arbeloa was hindered by Jude Bellingham’s injury just 10 minutes into the match. Perhaps he believed he was being bold by substituting Brahim Díaz in his place, but the result was that Real Madrid’s midfield was thoroughly overrun. This was particularly unnecessary since he had alternatives: Dani Ceballos (who would come on at halftime), along with two midfielders playing as fullbacks — Eduardo Camavinga on the left and Fede Valverde on the right — with actual fullbacks (Álvaro Carreras, Dani Carvajal, Fran García) available on the bench.
This lack of strategic thinking set the tone for the match. Real Madrid went 69 minutes without registering a shot on target, from Arda Güler’s attempt in the 19th minute to Brahim Diaz’s in the 86th minute. They did strike the woodwork twice during that period, but in the meantime, Rayo equalized and nearly took the lead with Andrei Ratiu.
Arbeloa’s reaction? He brought on more forwards: first Gonzalo García, then Rodrygo. The result was a disorganized, top-heavy formation that desperately sought the equalizer, especially after Rayo had a player sent off, relying mostly on individual efforts. Nampalys Mendy’s wild “air kick” struck Brahim Diaz, leading to the penalty that Kylian Mbappe converted in the 101st minute. This secured three points for Real, but with even more frustration and confusion than before.
Arbeloa appears to be in over his head. While he is not solely responsible, he will bear the brunt of the blame if performances like this continue. No one expects elaborate football or intricate tactics — he hasn’t had the time to implement much — but the tough-guy, no-nonsense approach is not effective and likely does not suit this group of players. With no Copa del Rey commitments, he has the luxury of a full week of training to address these issues. He must make it count.
That’s three wins on the spin for Man United, but this was a different challenge
play1:10Is the race for a top four spot down to Manchester United and Liverpool?
The “ESPN FC” crew discuss who they think will finish in the top four of the Premier League.
When taking over midseason, particularly amid the chaos and toxicity that characterized the conclusion of the Ruben Amorim Era, there are limits to what can be altered in terms of tactics and motivation during the initial matches. Interestingly, it can sometimes be easier to face teams like Man City and Arsenal away (the two opponents Carrick has faced since his appointment) since identifying the right strategies against such teams is less challenging. You implement a straightforward and familiar system, aim to counterattack, and with a new coach and a formidable opponent, the pressure is somewhat alleviated.
Conversely, Fulham presented a completely different challenge compared to the top two teams in the Premier League. Although they were on a good run and had climbed to seventh, they would likely have settled for a point at Old Trafford, and as is often the case with Marco Silva’s teams, they are comfortable playing on the counter. United needed to find a way to break them down.
Taking the lead through Casemiro (who has been a significant contributor) within the first 20 minutes and doubling it with Matheus Cunha just before the hour mark made things considerably easier … until they didn’t. The final 15 minutes spiraled out of control (perhaps not coincidentally after Casemiro was substituted). Harry Maguire’s reckless challenge on Raúl Jiménez resulted in a penalty, Kevin’s stunning strike was unstoppable, and suddenly it was 2-2.
Ultimately, Benjamin Sesko’s late winner — coupled with some questionable defending from Fulham — saved United and secured the three points. In some respects, if Carrick can frame it positively for his players, he achieved the best of both worlds: a victory and a largely convincing performance, along with numerous teachable moments and clear areas for improvement.
play1:26What has Michael Carrick changed at Manchester United?
Mark Donaldson and Shaka Hislop discuss how United have looked different since Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim.
One also wonders what this means for Sesko, who has mostly been inconsistent since joining from RB Leipzig over the summer. Carrick has utilized him for just 27 minutes across his three matches in charge, but he had scored three goals in his previous two appearances before that and, of course, he finished his goal well and struck the crossbar against Fulham. Results and securing a Champions League spot will undoubtedly be Carrick’s main focus. However, if he can also demonstrate that Sesko — who is young and came at a significant cost — can be a viable long-term option in attack, it will only enhance his chances of securing the position permanently.
Borussia Dortmund cut the Bundesliga gap to six points, but also remind you why they (probably) won’t win the title
This may seem harsh, but it is accurate if they continue to perform like this. At home against Heidenheim — who are currently at the bottom of the table with just two points from their last seven matches — they initially took the lead but found themselves trailing 2-1 with 22 minutes remaining. That was when Serhou Guirassy — who, lest we forget, had scored only one Bundesliga goal since Halloween — netted two quick goals (the first a penalty that was, to put it mildly, fortunate) to put them ahead 3-2. Nico Kovac, on the bench, finally felt some relief.
Okay, second in the table against the league’s worst team under the Yellow Wall … straightforward, right? Maintain possession, exploit counterattacks, make them chase, and see the game out, right? Oh no, this is Borussia Dortmund. First, Guirassy squandered his chance at a hat-trick by sending his penalty soaring over the crossbar. Then, the defensive blunders reminiscent of past seasons resurfaced, with Arijon Ibrahimovic and Mikkel Kaufman coming perilously close to equalizing.
It goes without saying that this cannot happen. Allowing four shots with a cumulative xG of 0.89 in injury time is unacceptable. Title-winning teams do not perform like this — especially not at home against the weakest side in the league. This issue is not solely the responsibility of the central defenders. They have a crucial head-to-head against Bayern at home on February 28, but even if they win that match, it is difficult to envision how they will recover another three points (actually, four, given their significant deficit in goal difference). Especially if they continue to play like this in critical moments.
Quick hits
play1:27Nicol: Arsenal were perfect in 4-0 win vs. Leeds
Steve Nicol reacts to Arsenal’s 4-0 victory against Leeds in the Premier League.
10. Noni Madueke lifts Arsenal in 4-0 drubbing at Leeds, showing it’s nice to have a Plan B: When Arsenal invested a substantial fee (rising to £52 million, or $71m) to acquire Noni Madueke from Chelsea last summer, many — including myself — were skeptical. We become desensitized by figures, but squad-building involves resource allocation, and for that price, one typically expects to secure a starter. While undoubtedly talented, Madueke had only one season as a regular at Chelsea and, more importantly, the player occupying the right wing at Arsenal — Madueke’s preferred position — also happened to be arguably the Gunners’ best player: Bukayo Saka. True, Madueke could also operate on the left, but he had not performed nearly as effectively on that side, and Arsenal already had quality options there in Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Matches like Saturday — when Madueke was called into the starting lineup after Saka sustained an injury during warm-ups — validate the club’s decision. Not only has he been an invaluable substitute for Saka when the latter is unavailable, but he has also enabled Arteta to manage Saka’s playing time. While no one at the club would openly acknowledge it, his arrival likely served as a form of “insurance” (and leverage) in case negotiations over Saka’s contract extension faltered. (They did not, and in January he signed a three-year extension through 2030.) Of course, as insurance policies go, this was a costly one, and it remains to be seen how things will unfold long-term — he is six months younger than Saka, and it is uncertain whether he will want to play second fiddle for the remainder of his career — but for now, Arsenal’s unconventional choice is yielding significant rewards.
9. Inter roll past Cremonese, but firecracker thrown on pitch is a reminder of the bad old days: Inter delivered the kind of performance that aspiring champions are expected to produce away to Cremonese. They took the initiative early, surged to a two-goal lead — Lautaro Martínez’s precise header marking his 17th of the season and Piotr Zielinski unleashing a wicked, swerving strike — and managed the game from there, limiting Cremonese to just two shots on target while maintaining over 60% possession. Not long ago, Serie A observers would have labeled it “brave” — teams that took the lead were expected to sit back and counterattack — but nowadays, this is the standard approach required to secure victories.
On the downside, a firecracker thrown from the stand occupied by visiting Inter Ultras landed near Cremonese goalkeeper Emil Audero. To his credit, Audero did not feign injury, but the shock and discomfort were evident. Inter condemned the act immediately, the Ultras identified the individual responsible, and he was apprehended. This aspect is encouraging, as this was not merely a dangerous act — and a disconcerting reminder of a time when such incidents were far too common — but it was also baffling, given there is no particular rivalry between the teams, there was no animosity towards Audero, and Inter were leading 2-0 at the time.
8. Reality bites elsewhere, but Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz are making Liverpool their own: There are numerous reasons to view Liverpool’s situation as concerning. They currently sit sixth in the table. They have suffered two season-ending injuries in defense, where one starting center back is 34 and the other is a free agent in June. Their record signing at center forward is likely to miss four-and-a-half months of the season by the time he returns (and he was not particularly impressive when fit, either). Their other star forward claimed he was being “driven out” in December, went to the Africa Cup of Nations, returned, and is still not performing at the level he once did. Their coach, Arne Slot, seems unable to make the pieces fit together coherently, partly due to injuries and partly because they may
