Manchester City Have Made Their Worst Ever Defensive Start To A Premier League Season Under Pep Guardiola

Manchester City’s defensive record in the Premier League so far is their worst-ever start to a season under Pep Guardiola.

The champions have conceded the joint-most goals and kept the joint-fewest clean sheets after eight Premier League games than in any other season since 2016.

Despite being the only unbeaten side left in the Premier League, City have never conceded more goals at this stage of the season since Pep Guardiola took charge.

With nine goals conceded, they have also kept just one clean sheet so far. The last time they managed so few clean sheets after eight games was 2016/17, in Guardiola’s first season.

And that year, they only conceded eight times by this stage, making this season officially Manchester City’s worst defensive start to a campaign under Guardiola.

Manchester City’s Defensive Record After Eight Premier League Games

City’s Defensive Issues Could Cost Them Premier League Title

Only once have City managed as few clean sheets after eight matches. They also had just one at this stage in 2016/17, and went on to finish third, 15 points behind champions Chelsea.

That season, they had conceded eight goals in their first eight games, one fewer than in the current campaign. City have twice before conceded nine in their first eight matches, 2019/20 and 2020/21. 

While they did secure the title in 2020/21, City again missed out in 2019/20, as Liverpool won the Premier League.

What this shows is that Manchester City’s defensive record matches up with the only two seasons they have failed to lift the Premier League trophy under Pep Guardiola.

Results Are All That Matters

But despite showing more defensive frailty than ever before under Pep, City are still winning games. 

They remain unbeaten and have amassed 20 points from their first eight matches. 

Only once have they won more points by this stage under Guardiola, with City reaching 22 points in the first eight matches of 2017/18.

Manchester City Happy To Outscore Their Opponents

With so many world-class goalscorers in their side, City appear content to just score more than their opponents, even if that means conceding a few more themselves.

The likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva mean the champions will never be short of goals, so can afford to go without clean sheets so long as they win matches.

So far, City have scored at least two goals in seven of their eight Premier League games, but they may not be able to outscore a poor defence all season.