A worrying trend has emerged for Manchester City, and it could prove costly in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
City's recent second-half performances have been a cause for concern, with the team failing to maintain their lead in three out of the last four league games where they were ahead at the break. The most recent example was the dramatic 2-2 draw against Tottenham, where City squandered a 2-0 advantage.
While the team's performance dip against Chelsea and Brighton earlier this year was less dramatic, the common thread is that City had chances to secure the win but failed to do so.
The turnaround at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was a tale of two halves. A re-energized and determined Spurs, with fresh personnel and a new system, faced a seemingly complacent City side. Tactics played a role, as Tottenham effectively nullified City's first-half dominance, but the real difference was in attitude and desire.
In any game, the team with superior players will prevail if they match the energy, desire, and running power of their opponents. City's loss of momentum was not due to a sudden surge in Tottenham's quality, but rather a matter of desire and mindset.
Pep Guardiola's team is currently trying to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal, and this second-half problem is a concern.
There are two possible reasons for a team's performance drop-off in the second half: mental or physical fatigue. While City played a busy schedule in January, their large squad and Guardiola's rotation policy suggest that physical fatigue is not the issue. It's more likely a mental block, a lack of focus, or an overconfidence that has crept into their game.
The first half against Spurs saw City dominate and look composed, with an interesting front two of Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland, and a fluid midfield. Guardiola's tactical tweaks, such as the pressing strategy that led to City's first goal, caused Spurs problems.
However, the second half was a different story. City lost all control and momentum, and only a couple of brilliant saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma prevented them from being beaten.
Normally, a team that has controlled the first half would expect more space for counter-attacks in the second, but City faced increased pressure without the same opportunities. Frank's tactical changes for Spurs, leaving Joao Palhinha and Radu Dragusin two-on-two against City's front two, contributed to this.
City's front two were poor, failing to hold up the ball or provide options in behind. This was a stark contrast to their first-half performance.
The reality is that City's performances are not at the level expected of them, given their quality and experience. In the first half, they played with the intensity and determination of a team on a mission, but this intensity was lacking in the second half.
Some players seem to think that once they go ahead, the game is won, but this mindset is not conducive to winning titles. City are not out of the race yet, but they need to address this mental block to have any chance of catching Arsenal.
