Aussie football legend Mark Bosnich has declared Manchester City's dire form is "beyond a crisis", and urged manager Pep Guardiola to "bring the change".
City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus on Thursday morning (AEDT), the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions.
City have won just one of their last 10 matches across all competitions dating back to October.
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Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Manchester City FC at Selhurst Park on December 07, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Getty
In the Champions League, they've dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team standings, with only the top 24 advancing.
For a team that was European champion in 2023 and has won the last four Premier League titles, progression to the next round of the new-look format looked a certainty before the season, but not anymore.
Speaking on Stan Sports', Bosnich said Guardiola had previously threatened to drop under-performing players in favour of youth from their development.
He said it was time for Guardiola to pull the trigger.
"It's a massive test for him. I think he's got to go to youth," he said.
"I remember watching one of those specials that they had on Manchester City, and he threatened the team ... 'I've got the kids in the academy, they're ready'.
"It's time to throw some of them in to basically give a kick up the backside to some of those players who are just not performing like we know that they can at the crucial moments.
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"It's time in my opinion he starts to bring the change. I don't know what else he's got to lose.
"People might turn around and say 'oh, it's this, it's that', but it's 10 games now. That's one win in 10 games. This is beyond a crisis."
In a separate interview, England legend Rio Ferdinand said the side was in the worst form since Guardiola took over in 2016.
Weston McKennie of Juventus scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Juventus and Manchester City at Juventus Stadium on December 11, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Weston McKennie scoring Juventus' second goal. Getty
"I think we are still going to be surprised given what they have done in recent years," the former Manchester United defender said.
"They have been a formidable team, they won four Premier Leagues on the bounce, they have a history of being very successful.
"But we just have not seen a Pep Guardiola side in general ever be this bad. He has to find a way of galvanising this team and reinstalling some form and confidence.
"They are under real pressure now."
City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan described the team's problem as a "mental issue."
Opponents "are able to break our rhythm with the smallest of things," Gundogan said.
"They don't even need to do much and it has such a big effect on us right now."
Barcelona jumped into second place in the league standings, behind Liverpool, and is guaranteed to advance after a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 mainly thanks to two goals by Bukayo Saka to move into third place and be the highest of six teams on 13 points.
The top eight qualify directly for the last 16 and the teams from 9-24 go into a two-legged playoff.
City has two games to save its campaign, and the first is against Paris Saint-Germain, another giant in trouble in 25th place — one spot out of the qualifying positions.