In the 65th minute of Manchester City’s [2-1 defeat](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/aston-villa-v-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report-1-63870377) to Aston Villa Morgan Rogers gave Aston Villa a 2-nil lead. The City academy graduate surged past a host of Manchester City players to spark the move that resulted in his goal. Rogers’ goal was a fine reward for his efforts. But as it unfolded I watched on and had a thought. Has the game quickly moved on from what made Pep Guardiola’s side so dominant? There is a similarity to the goals that City concede and that fact in itself does tell a tale.
Even Aston Villa’s opening goal exposed a frailty in Manchester City’s set-up. City’s high defensive line was torn open by a simple ball from Youri Tielemans. The result of that was Morgan Rogers gifting Jhon Duran Aston Villa’s opening goal in the 16th minute. But try as they might, for the remainder of the first half, Manchester City could barely muster a response to Villa’s opening goal. But while Manchester City dominated possession, Unai Emery’s side kept it tight at the back, safe in the knowledge that they could get at Pep Guardiola’s side. That fact, coupled with how Rogers doubled Villa’s lead, exposed an idea that hadn’t previously been considered over City’s poor run of form.
#### [READ MORE: City player ratings from Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.](https://esteemedkompany.com/2024/12/21/manchester-city-1-aston-villa-2-city-player-ratings-as-manchester-citys-woes-continue-at-villa-park/)
What Aston Villa had that Pep Guardiola’s side lacks is athleticism and pace. Time and time again at Villa Park Manchester City couldn’t keep up with Unai Emery’s side. But that isn’t a new phenomenon. That was seen in City’s defeats to Sporting CP, Tottenham, Liverpool and other teams across City’s poor run of results. Pep Guardiola’s side aren’t equipped to deal with that. If it was seen once or twice in 12 games you could call it a blip. But to see the same frailty exposed time and time again speaks of a trend.
The game is moving towards athletic wingers and midfielders. Watch how teams set up against Manchester City and you can see it. The trendsetters across Europe this season have those types of players. Manchester City don’t. They’ve been found wanting as they can’t keep up with teams with raw pace and athleticism. It sounds harsh, but the game may have quickly moved on from Manchester City’s possession-based style. City’s style is playing into their opponent’s hands, and perhaps that indicates that the game has moved on from or found a weakness in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team.
Perhaps when Manchester City get players back from injury they will be better equipped to deal with the threat their opponents pose. But if not, maybe, just maybe, the game has quickly moved on from Pep Guardiola’s possession-based style. As the game wore on at Villa Park you did get the sense that perhaps Pep Guardiola’s next challenge isn’t to restore what Manchester City had. Perhaps it is to adapt to where the game is headed or has gotten to.
Pep Guardiola is a genius who can keep ahead of the trends of the game. Maybe now his challenge is to adapt to what the modern-day game demands and add that to his all-conquering team. But right now it seems that the game has moved past Manchester City. Now they appear to be scrambling to keep up.