A Capital Concern: Man City’s Struggle for Form in London
Manchester City head back to the capital on Wednesday needing more than three points. After winning just two of their last seven trips to London, the Premier League champions arrive at Craven Cottage with a clear mission: reverse a worrying trend that has chipped away at their aura of invincibility on the road.
City’s visit to Fulham comes at a delicate moment in the title race. Last weekend’s win over Leeds steadied nerves, but their recent form in London has raised uncomfortable questions for Pep Guardiola’s side. For a team once considered the capital’s most feared visitors, the decline has been swift and difficult to ignore.
Only 18 months ago, City were untouchable in London. Six straight victories, including decisive wins at Tottenham, Arsenal, and West Ham, reinforced the sense that Guardiola’s approach travelled seamlessly. That streak culminated in a 3-1 triumph at West Ham on 31 August 2024. Since then, the narrative has shifted dramatically.
The unraveling began with a 2-1 EFL Cup defeat at Tottenham on 30 October 2024. A 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace followed in December, and the slide deepened with a bruising 5-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on 2 February 2025. Each setback chipped away at the confidence that once defined their trips to the capital.
City briefly regained momentum with a hard-fought Premier League win at Tottenham on 26 February, a result that seemed to signal a return to normal. But London had one more sting to deliver. Crystal Palace denied Guardiola a domestic cup last season, beating City in the FA Cup final at Wembley in a result that underlined a broader shift: London clubs were no longer intimidated.
One bright spot remained. City defeated Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage on 25 May, one of just two victories in their last seven London visits. But that progress stalled again this September with a 1-1 draw at the Emirates, where Arsenal once more frustrated the champions.
For Guardiola, the issue is no longer anecdotal. It is a pattern. And patterns have consequences. Can a side with aspirations of reclaiming the Premier League afford to drop points repeatedly in one region of the country? What does this say about City’s adaptability, their resilience, and their evolving identity as the Guardiola era enters a new chapter?
With Erling Haaland rediscovering scoring rhythm and City chasing back-to-back league wins for the first time in weeks, the stakes at Craven Cottage are unmistakable. A victory would restore confidence and reassert their authority in a city that has increasingly become a stumbling block. A defeat, however, would intensify doubts about their title credentials and hand momentum to rivals who have sensed vulnerability.
City will walk out in London once again, knowing the story is no longer about history. It is about rediscovery. And at Craven Cottage, they must decide whether London stays sky blue or grows darker still.