The mood around the Etihad right now is, honestly, weird. You’d think a team that’s been dominating English football for a decade would have a bit more steel when things get rocky, but the latest Manchester City news now suggests the wheels aren't just wobbling—they might be coming off entirely.
Yesterday’s 2-0 humbling at Old Trafford wasn't just another derby loss. It felt like a shift in the tectonic plates of Manchester. Michael Carrick, in his very first game as Manchester United's interim boss, basically schooled Pep Guardiola. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu didn't just win the game; they exposed a City side that looks, frankly, toothless.
The Derby Disaster and the Title Slip
If you're looking at the table today, it’s grim reading for the blue half of the city. Arsenal are currently sitting pretty at the top with 50 points. City are stuck on 43. That seven-point gap is massive, especially since City haven't won a league game since the calendar turned to 2026. Four games. Zero wins.
Pep was unusually blunt after the match. He basically admitted they aren't ready to fight for the title if you just look at the results. He's right. The energy wasn't there. For 80 minutes, they had a chance to capitalize on a controversial non-red card for Diogo Dalot—who arguably should've been sent off for a stamp on Jeremy Doku—but they did nothing with it.
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- Current Form: Winless in four Premier League matches.
- The Standings: 2nd place, trailing Arsenal by 7 points (who have a game in hand).
- The Goal Drought: Erling Haaland was a ghost at Old Trafford.
Is Pep Guardiola Actually Leaving?
This is the big one. The rumor mill is spinning so fast it’s basically a blur. Following the derby loss, pundit Richard Keys and several outlets have started suggesting Pep might actually walk this week. It sounds insane, but he’s been at the club for ten years. That’s an eternity in modern football.
His contract situation has always been a "we'll see" kind of deal, but the frustration is visible. When asked about the ongoing 115 charges—or 130, depending on who you ask—Pep's response on New Year's Day was a biting: "They must be so busy." He's clearly fed up with the legal shadow hanging over the club while the on-pitch performance dips.
The Transfer Panic: Marc Guéhi and Antoine Semenyo
When City starts panic-buying, you know things are serious. They just dropped £62.5 million on Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. Now, reports are solidifying that a £20 million deal for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi is in the final stages.
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Why Guéhi? Because the injury list looks like a hospital ward:
- Rúben Dias: Out with a hamstring issue.
- Josko Gvardiol: Nursing a tibial fracture.
- John Stones: Thigh problem (and rumors say his contract won't be renewed).
Guardiola was actually forced to play 20-year-old Max Alleyne in the derby. Alleyne is a talent, but you don't win titles starting kids in central defense during a Manchester derby.
The 115 Charges: The Never-Ending Story
We’re now in 2026, and we still don’t have a verdict on the financial fair play allegations. It’s been three years since the Premier League first dropped the hammer. The private hearing finished in December 2024, yet here we are.
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Journalist Miguel Delaney recently suggested the verdict might be delayed for another year. This limbo is killing the club's momentum. Even if they are found innocent, the "asterisk" remains. If they're found guilty? We're talking anything from a massive fine to multiple relegations. It's a cloud that won't go away, and it’s clearly affecting the players’ psyche.
What’s Next for the Blues?
The schedule doesn't get any easier. They have a massive Champions League clash against Real Madrid coming up on January 20th. Given their current form, a trip to the Bernabéu sounds less like a football match and more like a trip to the dentist.
Erling Haaland is also facing immense pressure. After a quiet derby where United fans relentlessly taunted him about his father's history with the club, he needs to find the net. He's still top of the Golden Shoe race, tied with Kylian Mbappé, but individual awards won't save City's season.
Practical Steps for Fans to Follow:
- Watch the Real Madrid fixture: This will be the ultimate litmus test for whether Pep has lost the dressing room.
- Monitor the Guéhi announcement: Expected within the next 48 hours; his registration will be vital for the next league game.
- Ignore the "Pep to leave" clickbait: Until a Tier 1 source like Ornstein or Romano confirms a resignation, treat it as post-derby noise.
- Check the Arsenal results: If the Gunners win their game in hand, the title race is effectively over before February.
The reality of Manchester City news now is that the club is at its most vulnerable point since the pre-Pep era. Whether they can find that "version of normal" Carrick talked about for United remains to be seen.