{"id":3228,"date":"2025-05-10T02:22:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T02:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/?p=3228"},"modified":"2025-05-10T02:22:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T02:22:27","slug":"man-city-only-racing-for-top-2-a-strategic-step-back-or-tactical-accident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/?p=3228","title":{"rendered":"Man City only racing for top 2: A strategic step back or tactical accident?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not only expecting to win all 3 points against the home team St. Mary&#8217;s, Man City also hopes to improve their ranking in the acceleration phase of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1920\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1080 \/ 1920;\" width=\"1080\" controls src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Rodri-wins-it-for-City-.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> The match schedule is supporting coach Pep Guardiola and his team, especially when they only have to face weaker opponents Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham in the last 3 rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"459\" src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-23.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-23.png 700w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-23-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because their rivals Arsenal still have to deal with extremely difficult teams like Liverpool, Newcastle (in addition to Southampton), so as long as they maintain a stable performance, coach Pep Guardiola and his team will easily reach the finish line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"634\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-27.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-27.png 634w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-27-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> Besides the opportunity to win the only title by reaching the FA Cup final, Man City is currently focusing on the top 5 goal and the chance to participate in the European Cup next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-26.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-26.png 800w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-26-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-26-768x480.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Man City continues to maintain their high ambitions, the home team Southampton is now only hoping to reduce the &#8220;damage&#8221; after officially receiving a ticket to relegation a few rounds ago. &#8220;The Saints&#8221; are sure to hold the bottom position of the entire league regardless of the results of the last 3 rounds. Therefore, they only hope not to lose any more matches, or avoid conceding many goals each match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-28-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-28-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-28-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-28-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-28-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-28-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Premier League is not a place for underdogs to play. Man City are aiming for a second consecutive away win in the Premier League &#8211; something they have not done since August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-29.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-29.png 1024w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-29-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-29-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> They have a good chance of doing so, having gone into the match on a 29-match unbeaten run against bottom-placed teams (W24 D5), since losing 1-2 to West Brom in December 2008. In particular, they have won their last 12 games in a row by an impressive aggregate score of 44-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-30-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-30-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-30-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-30-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-30-1536x866.png 1536w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-30-2048x1154.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having to face only weak opponents is an opportunity for Man City to regain the feeling and habits of a &#8220;big guy&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"634\" height=\"455\" src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-31.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-31.png 634w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-31-300x215.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kevin de Bruyne, who is about to leave the team, needs more opportunities to shine in front of the fans. Those who have been absent for most of the season like Rodri or for a short time like Erling Haaland also hope to have a chance to return after recovering from injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-32-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-32-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-32-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-32-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-32-1536x1024.png 1536w, https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-32-2048x1366.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not only expecting to win all 3 points against the home team St. Mary&#8217;s, Man City also hopes to improve their ranking in the acceleration phase of the tournament. The match schedule is supporting coach Pep Guardiola and his team, especially when they only have to face weaker opponents Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3263,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[400],"tags":[726,728,729,727,730],"class_list":["post-3228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport","tag-mancity","tag-mancityanalysis","tag-pepguardiola","tag-premierleague","tag-titlerace"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3228"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3264,"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3228\/revisions\/3264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topkeynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}