Published: 12:00, 2 February 2026 | Updated: 12:04, 2 February 2026

With his baggy green trousers on, the injured Ruben Dias was out on the pitch when everything had finished at Tottenham. Shaking his head with team-mates, holding debriefs. Wondering where it all went wrong again.

Manchester City can point to refereeing decisions having impacted another game, and argue they were on the duff end of the deal as Arsenal finished the weekend six points clear. But it cannot detract from the worrying trend that has taken hold for much of the season, and even more prominently over the last month.

In the second half of matches, City are not the same team. Something is happening at half-time. Since the turn of the year – and discounting the record win over Exeter City – they are leading games 8-2 on aggregate before the break. And losing 7-3 after it.

Nine games and a clear pattern. Pep Guardiola has held discussions with his backroom staff about it but doesn’t appear to be able to put his finger on why City drop off. Or if he...