Manchester City experienced a dramatic afternoon in the 2-2 draw against Brentford in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s team opened a two-goal advantage, with Phil Foden being the main protagonist by scoring twice. However, the team suffered an emotional turnaround in the final minutes, allowing Brentford to react with two decisive goals. The situation created tension on and off the field, especially after Foden’s statements, where he claimed the team was fragile and tired in the final moments of the match. Guardiola directly addressed the criticism, emphasizing that he substituted Foden precisely due to the lack of energy observed on the pitch.
The match took place at one of the most challenging stadiums for visitors in England, and the result kept Manchester City away from the title race. With the draw, Guardiola’s team now occupies sixth place in the Premier League standings, with 35 points. The sequence of negative results worries the coach, who sees his team struggling with significant absences and a drop in performance during crucial moments.
Guardiola was emphatic in his press conference by highlighting that the tight schedule and injuries have directly impacted City’s performance. The team faces constant challenges with the absence of key players like Rodri and Bernardo Silva, making it difficult to maintain an intense rhythm throughout the match.
Pep Guardiola with Stephan Ortega after Man City blew a two goal lead at Brentford 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/JRkgdoDSfI
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 14, 2025
Impact of the draw on Manchester City’s season performance
Manchester City’s campaign in the 2024/2025 season has been marked by ups and downs. After a promising start, the team faced a series of setbacks between October and December 2024, resulting in a significant drop in the standings. With 35 points, City finds itself far from the title fight, led by Liverpool, and needs an immediate reaction to stay in contention for European competitions.
The draw with Brentford was another reflection of the difficulties faced by City. Although they controlled most of the game, the team experienced a sharp decline in performance in the final minutes, allowing the opponent to press and score two goals within a short interval. This situation raised alarms within the club, which seeks solutions to prevent further slip-ups.
Foden’s statements and Guardiola’s response
Phil Foden was direct in his statements after the match. The young player admitted that the team was tired and that this was decisive for the draw. According to him, the team could not handle Brentford’s pressure in the final minutes, which ultimately resulted in losing the victory.
- “We looked tired in the last 20, 30 minutes. We looked fragile, and they pressed a lot, putting long balls into the area. It was hard to deal with their physicality at the end,” Foden said.
Guardiola, in turn, did not hesitate to counter the player’s criticism. In a press conference, the coach explained that Foden’s substitution, at the 42nd minute of the second half, was precisely because of the athlete’s lack of energy on the field.
- “That’s why I substituted him. The schedule is very demanding, and we have many key absences. Kovacic returned from injury, Rodri is unavailable, and Bernardo made an incredible effort. We need to manage these situations better,” Guardiola stated.
Key facts about City’s recent game sequence
- Manchester City faced a losing streak between October and December 2024.
- The draw against Brentford was the second consecutive game in which City lost their lead in the final minutes.
- The team occupies sixth place in the Premier League, with 35 points.
- City’s next match will be against Ipswich, away, in the 22nd round of the Premier League.
Decisive moments of the match against Brentford
- Phil Foden opened the scoring in the 66th minute, taking advantage of a precise cross in the area.
- The second goal came in the 78th minute, after a collective play involving Grealish and Alvarez.
- Yoane Wissa reduced Brentford’s deficit in the 82nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by City.
- Christian Norgaard equalized in injury time, securing the point for the home team.
The influence of injuries and a tight schedule
Guardiola has faced difficulties in fielding his starting team due to numerous injuries. Players like Rodri, De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva, who are essential in the coach’s tactical scheme, have missed crucial matches.
Moreover, the tight Premier League schedule has been a challenge for Manchester City. With frequent games and constant travel, the team has little time to rest and prepare for upcoming challenges. This situation has generated significant physical wear and tear on the players, directly affecting their performance on the pitch.
Curiosities about Manchester City’s season
- City has already suffered five defeats this season, three of them at home.
- Foden is the team’s top scorer this season, with 12 goals.
- The last time Manchester City finished outside the Premier League top four was in the 2015/2016 season.
Comparative performance to last season
In the 2023/2024 season, Manchester City won the Premier League title with consistent performance throughout the campaign. However, this season, the team has found it more challenging to maintain regularity, especially in away matches.
- 2023/2024 season: 90 points, 28 wins, 6 draws, and 4 losses.
- 2024/2025 season (current): 35 points in 21 games, 10 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses.
Upcoming challenges for Manchester City
Manchester City’s next commitment will be against Ipswich, away, on Sunday. The team needs a win to stay in the race for European competition spots. Guardiola is expected to make adjustments to the team to improve their performance in the final minutes of matches.
Additionally, City has important matches ahead, including direct clashes against teams at the top of the table. These matches will be crucial in determining the team’s future this season.
Match statistics against Brentford
- Possession: 63% for Manchester City.
- Shots: 15 from City against 9 from Brentford.
- Fouls committed: 10 by City and 12 by Brentford.
- Yellow cards: 2 for City and 1 for Brentford.
Individual highlights of the match
- Phil Foden: Scored both goals for Manchester City.
- Yoane Wissa: Responsible for starting Brentford’s comeback.
- Christian Norgaard: Scored the equalizer in injury time.
Historical data on the Manchester City vs. Brentford matchup
- Brentford has not lost to Manchester City at home since 2022.
- This was the third draw between the teams in their last five encounters.
Expected changes in City’s lineup
Guardiola is expected to make changes to the starting lineup for upcoming matches to increase intensity and prevent performance drops in the final minutes. Players like Grealish and Alvarez may get more opportunities, while Kovacic is likely to be used cautiously due to his injury recovery.

Manchester City experienced a dramatic afternoon in the 2-2 draw against Brentford in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s team opened a two-goal advantage, with Phil Foden being the main protagonist by scoring twice. However, the team suffered an emotional turnaround in the final minutes, allowing Brentford to react with two decisive goals. The situation created tension on and off the field, especially after Foden’s statements, where he claimed the team was fragile and tired in the final moments of the match. Guardiola directly addressed the criticism, emphasizing that he substituted Foden precisely due to the lack of energy observed on the pitch.
The match took place at one of the most challenging stadiums for visitors in England, and the result kept Manchester City away from the title race. With the draw, Guardiola’s team now occupies sixth place in the Premier League standings, with 35 points. The sequence of negative results worries the coach, who sees his team struggling with significant absences and a drop in performance during crucial moments.
Guardiola was emphatic in his press conference by highlighting that the tight schedule and injuries have directly impacted City’s performance. The team faces constant challenges with the absence of key players like Rodri and Bernardo Silva, making it difficult to maintain an intense rhythm throughout the match.
Pep Guardiola with Stephan Ortega after Man City blew a two goal lead at Brentford 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/JRkgdoDSfI
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 14, 2025
Impact of the draw on Manchester City’s season performance
Manchester City’s campaign in the 2024/2025 season has been marked by ups and downs. After a promising start, the team faced a series of setbacks between October and December 2024, resulting in a significant drop in the standings. With 35 points, City finds itself far from the title fight, led by Liverpool, and needs an immediate reaction to stay in contention for European competitions.
The draw with Brentford was another reflection of the difficulties faced by City. Although they controlled most of the game, the team experienced a sharp decline in performance in the final minutes, allowing the opponent to press and score two goals within a short interval. This situation raised alarms within the club, which seeks solutions to prevent further slip-ups.
Foden’s statements and Guardiola’s response
Phil Foden was direct in his statements after the match. The young player admitted that the team was tired and that this was decisive for the draw. According to him, the team could not handle Brentford’s pressure in the final minutes, which ultimately resulted in losing the victory.
- “We looked tired in the last 20, 30 minutes. We looked fragile, and they pressed a lot, putting long balls into the area. It was hard to deal with their physicality at the end,” Foden said.
Guardiola, in turn, did not hesitate to counter the player’s criticism. In a press conference, the coach explained that Foden’s substitution, at the 42nd minute of the second half, was precisely because of the athlete’s lack of energy on the field.
- “That’s why I substituted him. The schedule is very demanding, and we have many key absences. Kovacic returned from injury, Rodri is unavailable, and Bernardo made an incredible effort. We need to manage these situations better,” Guardiola stated.
Key facts about City’s recent game sequence
- Manchester City faced a losing streak between October and December 2024.
- The draw against Brentford was the second consecutive game in which City lost their lead in the final minutes.
- The team occupies sixth place in the Premier League, with 35 points.
- City’s next match will be against Ipswich, away, in the 22nd round of the Premier League.
Decisive moments of the match against Brentford
- Phil Foden opened the scoring in the 66th minute, taking advantage of a precise cross in the area.
- The second goal came in the 78th minute, after a collective play involving Grealish and Alvarez.
- Yoane Wissa reduced Brentford’s deficit in the 82nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by City.
- Christian Norgaard equalized in injury time, securing the point for the home team.
The influence of injuries and a tight schedule
Guardiola has faced difficulties in fielding his starting team due to numerous injuries. Players like Rodri, De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva, who are essential in the coach’s tactical scheme, have missed crucial matches.
Moreover, the tight Premier League schedule has been a challenge for Manchester City. With frequent games and constant travel, the team has little time to rest and prepare for upcoming challenges. This situation has generated significant physical wear and tear on the players, directly affecting their performance on the pitch.
Curiosities about Manchester City’s season
- City has already suffered five defeats this season, three of them at home.
- Foden is the team’s top scorer this season, with 12 goals.
- The last time Manchester City finished outside the Premier League top four was in the 2015/2016 season.
Comparative performance to last season
In the 2023/2024 season, Manchester City won the Premier League title with consistent performance throughout the campaign. However, this season, the team has found it more challenging to maintain regularity, especially in away matches.
- 2023/2024 season: 90 points, 28 wins, 6 draws, and 4 losses.
- 2024/2025 season (current): 35 points in 21 games, 10 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses.
Upcoming challenges for Manchester City
Manchester City’s next commitment will be against Ipswich, away, on Sunday. The team needs a win to stay in the race for European competition spots. Guardiola is expected to make adjustments to the team to improve their performance in the final minutes of matches.
Additionally, City has important matches ahead, including direct clashes against teams at the top of the table. These matches will be crucial in determining the team’s future this season.
Match statistics against Brentford
- Possession: 63% for Manchester City.
- Shots: 15 from City against 9 from Brentford.
- Fouls committed: 10 by City and 12 by Brentford.
- Yellow cards: 2 for City and 1 for Brentford.
Individual highlights of the match
- Phil Foden: Scored both goals for Manchester City.
- Yoane Wissa: Responsible for starting Brentford’s comeback.
- Christian Norgaard: Scored the equalizer in injury time.
Historical data on the Manchester City vs. Brentford matchup
- Brentford has not lost to Manchester City at home since 2022.
- This was the third draw between the teams in their last five encounters.
Expected changes in City’s lineup
Guardiola is expected to make changes to the starting lineup for upcoming matches to increase intensity and prevent performance drops in the final minutes. Players like Grealish and Alvarez may get more opportunities, while Kovacic is likely to be used cautiously due to his injury recovery.
