There is a specific kind of silence that descends upon the Etihad when a title race starts to slip through the fingers like sand. It isn’t the angry silence of a club in crisis, but rather a weary, puzzled hush. Watching Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Brighton on Wednesday felt like witnessing a world-class engine that is missing just a few too many spark plugs.
City lacks Killers in front of Goals:
In my two decades on this beat, I’ve seen Pep Guardiola’s sides operate with a surgical precision that made goals feel inevitable. But right now, City lack the “killers” they once had in abundance. Look back at the 2022-23 vintage; you had Haaland, Alvarez, Foden, Mahrez, and De Bruyne all hitting double figures. Today, with Omar Marmoush away at AFCON, Savio and Oscar Bobb in the treatment room, and Jeremy Doku still finding his legs after coming back from a short-term injury, the burden on Erling Haaland has become unsustainable. It’s no wonder Antoine Semenyo was undergoing his medical in Manchester today. Fresh off a fairy-tale winning goal for Bournemouth, Semenyo is exactly the kind of direct, in-form predator this frontline needs to take the bull by the horns.
We Lack Bastards too:
Yet, it isn’t just the finishing that feels diminished; it’s the temperament. This City squad currently lacks what I like to call the “bastards”, those snarling, iron-willed leaders who boss the pitch through sheer force of personality. With the departures of Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan, and Kevin De Bruyne, there is a vacuum of authority. Every historic dynasty needs its Sergio Ramos or Lionel Messi, figures who bully the opposition not just with skill, but with presence. At 25, Haaland is still building that side of his game. Meanwhile, you look at Arsenal and see Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes, players who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. City, by contrast, looks a little too “soft” in the duels.
Khusanov is Special:
If there is a silver lining, it is the remarkable redemption of Abdukodir Khusanov. It feels like a lifetime ago that he suffered that nightmare debut against Chelsea in January 2025. Back then, he looked shell-shocked. Tonight, the 21-year-old was a revelation. He has clearly come of age, showing a physical dominance and distribution that left Pep purring in the post-match presser. His recovery pace is the safety net this high line has been screaming for, proving that even in a transitional side, quality eventually rises to the top.
Tired Legs but Still Better than Last Year:
However, the fatigue is palpable. Pep’s decision to run a fixed XI through a gruelling December worked for a while, clawing back the gap to Arsenal, but the bill has now come due. The legs look heavy, and the pressing has lost its sting. While this season is still a monumental improvement on the “dark winter” of 2024-25, where the club felt like a sinking ship, the five-point gap to the Gunners feels wider than it did a week ago.
City are undeniably a better, more coherent side than they were twelve months ago. The transition is painful, but the trajectory is upward. They just need to find their edge again before the season moves entirely out of reach.
