For an entire generation of football fans, Manchester City lifting the Premier League trophy has felt inevitable. Over the past five years, they have secured four consecutive league titles, a Champions League crown, and, most notably, a historic treble. Under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola, City have redefined success- not just in how they play, but in how they win. Yet, this season, it’s all gone horribly wrong. Their usual rhythm and dominance has disappeared, and they now find themselves scraping by both domestically and in Europe.

Fans and pundits alike have speculated about the reasons behind this decline, but two primary factors stand out: managerial fatigue and an aging squad.