Guardiola coming up short in big games

It’s at this stage of the season, when games seem to matter more and trophies are on the line, where Manchester City was relying on manager Pep Guardiola coming into his own.

This was the acclaimed serial winner who was going to “transform our team to a whole new level,” chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said as he welcomed the Spanish coach to City amid much fanfare last June.

Guardiola has come up short.

Over the past six weeks, five of City’s seven games have been high-profile showdowns — Monaco in the Champions League, Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinals, and Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in the English Premier League — and City has failed to win a single one. In 11 league games against the current top seven this season, City has won two.

There is another blockbuster looming, a derby against archrival Manchester United on Thursday, and City dares not lose.

So where has Guardiola been going wrong?

GAME MANAGEMENT

Arsenal hadn’t come from behind to win a game against any of England’s top squads — City, United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool — since late 2012. Until it played City Sunday, that is.

Losing in that way to a side as fragile as Arsenal highlights an issue: managing games.

City was 1-0 up and in command against Chelsea in a home league game in December, only to lose 3-1. City was ahead 2-0 at home to Tottenham in January, lost control, and drew 2-2.

City needs to add some steel and team shape to its pretty soccer.

POOR FINISHING

Guardiola can sound like a broken record when he laments his side’s failure to finish off chances.

“It happened many times, but it is what it is: We have to score and we didn’t,” he said after the FA Cup loss to Arsenal.

The most obvious example was Kevin De Bruyne hitting the crossbar from point-blank range when City was up 1-0 at the Etihad against Chelsea, which went on to equalize.

DEFENSIVE WEAKNESS

Particularly with captain Vincent Kompany injured for much of the season, City hasn’t had enough defence to sit back and finish games.

Nor has goalkeeper Claudio Bravo’s shot-stopping or command of the area been strong enough to bring reassurance. Guardiola’s “attack at all costs” mentality might not help, either.

BAD LUCK

Guardiola has had a legitimate grievance with certain key occasions.

Notably the shove on City winger Raheem Sterling by Kyle Walker in Tottenham’s area moments before Spurs equalized in the 2-2 draw in January.

Guardiola tries not to complain about referees, but his exasperation can be clear in the technical area.