‘Man City will not win the Premier League and Rodri has just shown me why’
Man City suffered another blow in their pursuit of the Premier League title with Arsenal now being backed to pull clear at the top of the league.
Despite reaching the Carabao Cup final thanks to a 5-1 aggregate victory against Newcastle, Pep Guardiola‘s side are still trailing in the Premier League.
Their last league fixture saw City draw 2-2 with Tottenham despite having been 2-0 up at half-time, leaving them six points short of Mikel Arteta‘s men.
Following that game, Rodri launched a scathing assessment of the referee’s performance, suggesting that the officials do not want City to win the league.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Rodri’s comments were “bizarre” and cemented his belief that they will miss out on the title.
Rodri slammed for outburst against referees
Brown told Football Insider in November that Arsenal have a clear advantage over Man City thanks to their superior defensive structure and set-piece threat.
Now, he has explained that City’s insistence on blaming referees and their lack of accountability for their own disappointing displays could see them drop further.
“Rodri’s comments after the Tottenham game were bizarre,” Brown told Football Insider.
“It really is a load of rubbish, as soon as things start going wrong for them they want to point fingers at the referee, that’s not going to win the league.
“There might be conversations to be had about the standard of refereeing and certain mistakes that are made, but moaning about it in the press isn’t doing anybody any favours.
“Rodri and his teammates at Man City need to look closer to home if they’re looking for problems. It wasn’t the referee who threw away a two-goal lead against Tottenham.
“There’s a strange feeling at Man City at the moment, something feels like it’s not quite right, and it’s highlighted by the way the players are acting.
“Guardiola went on a rant about the referees the other day as well, it just comes across as a little bit desperate, they need to take some responsibility.
“I don’t think City are going to win the league from this position, they don’t look at the required level, and all of this talk about referees isn’t helping.
“They have their own problems they need to address before they start looking around for excuses, I don’t get it at all to be honest.”
Pep Guardiola could quit the Etihad sooner rather than later
Amid building frustrations at Man City, speculation is growing that this could be Guardiola’s final season at the Etihad, and he could leave in the summer.
Brown told Football Insider on 3 February that Guardiola could quit Man City as it has become clear that he is no longer happy at the club.
Should City fail to win any trophies for a second consecutive season, after losing the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace last year, it could push the boss out.
Brown warned Football Insider on 19 January that Guardiola could leave Man City amid whispers that he could step away from management sooner rather than later.
The boss’ current contract at the Etihad is set to expire in 2027, but there are growing suggestions that this could be his final season in charge.
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