January Full of Question Marks for Man City, Defeats to MU and Bodø/Glimt Raise Alarm

Manchester City is going through an unusual phase. The team synonymous with dominance and consistency in recent seasons is now showing inconsistency in January 2026. After falling to Manchester United in the Manchester Derby, Pep Guardiola's side lost to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

Last weekend, Manchester City failed to withstand the resilience of hosts Manchester United in the Premier League continuation. Playing at Old Trafford, The Citizens lost 0-2 in a high-tension match, with several City opportunities thwarted by VAR decisions and the crossbar.

Before fully recovering from the derby defeat, City stumbled again within days. On Matchday 7 of the Champions League, Wednesday, January 21, 2026 (early morning WIB), they suffered a 1-3 defeat at Bodo/Glimt's home ground.

This loss was surprising as City arrived as favorites. Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt hadn't secured a single victory in this season's Champions League prior, collecting only three draws and three losses. Yet against the Norwegian crowd, the hosts displayed clinical efficiency.

Bodo/Glimt ended the match as 3-1 winners. This result marked their first Champions League victory this season, lifting them to 27th position in the standings with six points, while opening their path to playoff contention.

Conversely, Manchester City faced bitter reality. The defeat in Norway left Erling Haaland and teammates in seventh place in the Champions League standings. 

Dropping these points places City at risk of falling out of the top eight—the zone guaranteeing direct qualification to the knockout stages without playoffs.

Looking deeper, the performance against Bodo/Glimt isn't an anomaly. January has been a month of inconsistency for City. Across seven matches in all competitions, The Citizens managed only two victories—both in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Prior to those wins, City was trapped in three consecutive Premier League draws after the new year. These results eroded their momentum in the domestic title race.

January 2026's results reveal City's fluctuating performance curve: draws against Sunderland, Chelsea, and Brighton; a goal fest against Exeter in the FA Cup; an away win over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup; followed by consecutive defeats to Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt.

This situation raises major questions: What's happening with Manchester City in January? Packed schedules, player rotation, and effectiveness in crucial moments are under scrutiny—especially as City must maintain stability simultaneously in the Premier League and Champions League.

Pep Guardiola faces a stern test to restore his team's consistency. Without immediate solutions, January could become the decisive month for Manchester City's trajectory—both in England and Europe.