Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are facing the unthinkable: elimination from the Champions League. The reigning champions, who were once considered invincible, have suffered seven defeats in their last 10 games, leaving them on the brink of a humiliating exit.
After Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Juventus, City find themselves in 22nd position in the Champions League, just one point clear of Paris Saint-Germain, who are currently below the cut-off point. A defeat in their next game against PSG would all but seal their fate.
But the biggest concern for City may not be their Champions League prospects, but rather the future of Pep Guardiola. The 53-year-old manager has never experienced a slump like this before, and his inability to find solutions has left many questioning his position.
Guardiola's usually effervescent personality was missing in Turin, as he struggled to inspire his team against a Juventus side that had gone six games without a win. He made just one change in the second half, introducing Matheus Nunes for Jack Grealish in the 87th minute.
Erling Haaland, City's star striker, failed to make an impact once again, and Guardiola was unable to make the necessary adjustments to turn the game around.
When asked if he was questioning himself, Guardiola conceded that he was, but with a defiant tone rather than hinting at self-doubt. "Of course I question myself and I have my thoughts," he said. "I'm stable in good moments and bad moments. I try to find a way to do it."
Despite his tough words, there is a growing sense that Guardiola's incredible eight-year reign at City may be coming to an end. His new two-year contract extension seems like a distant memory now, and his comments about possibly leaving the club after this season are taking on a new significance.
City still have seven months of football left this season, including a trip to the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States next summer. But with their energy and ideas running low, it's hard to see how they will turn things around. For Guardiola and his team, the unthinkable has become a very real possibility: relegation from the Champions League.
