What Pep Guardiola did during second half suggests worrying Man City problem after latest defeat

This was the night the excuses ran out for Manchester City. Any hope that those four successive defeats before the international break could be put down to a challenging run on the road, to an unsettling injury crisis or the uncertainty over Pep Guardiola’s future are over.

Tottenham's riotous night at the Etihad revealed a team that suddenly looks all too fragile. City have lost five in a row, and this was another performance that hinted at a decline that might just be more permanent than many thought.

Just like in Lisbon and Brighton, City imploded the moment something went against them. Their dominance didn't last for as long as those games, and they didn't have the advantage to throw away, but for 12 minutes, they were on top.

They were playing quickly, finding space and creating chances. Erling Haaland should probably have put them ahead. But then Tottenham countered. Josko Gvardiol was too weak against Dejan Kulusevski and the defence parted for James Maddison to score. Cue the self-sabotage.

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City were never again as lively as those first dozen minutes. But they were never as cohesive either. Heads dropped, and shoulders sagged. They became frustrated with each other and at those little mistakes creeping into their game.

When Kevin De Bruyne waited to come on with 17 minutes to play, he threw his arms out in disgust when City lost the ball in the centre of the pitch once again. When he came on, he tried to do everything by himself, which was understandable when belief had long since seeped out of his teammates.

For the first half-an-hour