By LEWIS BROWNING
Published: 18:17 EST, 11 December 2024 | Updated: 18:17 EST, 11 December 2024
Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Manchester City have 'a broken mentality' after their dismal run of form continued on Wednesday night.
Pep Guardiola's side face a battle to stay in the Champions League after their latest loss in the competition, going down 2-0 to Juventus in Turin in round six to leave them 22nd in the table.
The top 24 teams will go through to the next round - the top eight skipping the play-offs - and City, who won the competition in the 2022-23 season, are not just a point above the elimination places.
They will face Paris Saint-Germain away from home next, with the French side occupying the first elimination place, which means all could be on the final game, which City will play at home to Club Brugge at the end of January.
But Wednesday's defeat means City have now seven times since their League Cup defeat by Tottenham at the end of October 10 games ago, and there are few signs that their fortunes will turn around any time soon.
The reason for that, according to Ferdinand, is mentality. Speaking on TNT Sports, reacting to an honest interview from City's Ilkay Gundogan, the pundit broke down how the mental side of the game could be having such an impact.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have 'a broken mentality', Rio Ferdinand has claimed
City lost for the seventh time in 10 games on Wednesday night, versus Juventus in Europe
Ferdinand pointed out that he feels City have strayed from 'one of Pep's things' in their play
'One of the telling things from that interview is it feels like there is a bit of a broken mentality in the group,' he said. 'From being a team built with players who, if they make mistakes, it was quickly forgotten - that is one of Pep's things - they make mistakes now and there is a hangover for the next few phases of play and that's when mistakes happen, you think there will be another one at any point.
'There seems to be a confusion with how to react and what to do. It sounds like they have their fingers on the pulse with what's going on, they are going to know, but getting humans out on the pitch lacking in confidence... they are not used to it, that is the difficult part.'
It's been a miserable campaign domestically for the Premier League champions, who are eight points behind leaders Liverpool - who have a game in hand - in the league, out of the League Cup and faltering in Europe.
Not all is lost, however, as they still have the FA Cup to play for and could bounce back in the Champions and Premier League.
It has been a season of contrast compared to how things have been in previous years, with Guardiola leading the side to European success as well as four Premier League titles in a row.
That, though, according to Ferdinand, is exactly why they will be able to put things right sooner rather than later.
'You cant be as successful as they have been and not be able to get this back on track,' he said. 'That can't be right.
'They could not ask for a better game than the derby versus Man United (this weekend). It won't reinstill every bit of confidence, but it will go a huge way to reinvigorating the team.
He did, though, suggest that the Premier League champions will get things back on track soon
Joleon Lescott claimed that City need to focus on stopping the rot rather than being dominant
'I am backing the mighty reds. But it is a battle of no confidence.'
Joleon Lescott, meanwhile, added: 'City aren't going to be this bad for the rest of the season and Pep's tenure. It is not trying to flip it on its head and be great again, but stop the rot.'