(Dead man walking? - image via Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
After watching his side narrowly avoid complete and utter numerical humiliation against Barcelona last week, one would have expected Manuel Pellegrini to reexamine his tactical approach against a team who are yet to lose in the Premier League this year. He didn't, and now the 61-year-old, brought in to enforce a 'holistic' approach at the club in the summer of 2013, is facing the hostility of the fans and the wrath of an unforgiving boardroom.
Be it naivety or just plain ignorance, Pellegrini's insistence on a 4-4-2 formation is driving both his job and his team's season into the ground.
Speaking before a 2-1 loss against Barcelona last Tuesday, he claimed to have learned from last season's capitulation. His decision to proceed with a central-midfield pairing of Fernando, arguably his worst player, and James Milner, who had only just returned from injury, against a team famed for their dominance in possession proved he hadn't learned a thing. Luis Enrique's side enjoyed a healthy 60% of possession that night and only a terrific performance from Joe Hart prevented City from total embarrassment.
(Pellegrini had his goalkeeper to thank for a kind scoreline last Wednesday - image via Alex Livesy/Getty Images)
The Englishman could do nothing to save his manager's blushes on Sunday afternoon, though. Extraordinary strikes from Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho earned Liverpool a deserved three points in their battle for Champions League football - a battle Manchester City are rapidly falling into.
City could not match Liverpool's enthusiasm, effort, nor their determination in the 2-1 loss, and although the players must shoulder a significant proportion of the blame for that, their manager set them up for failure.
Edin Džeko was on the scoresheet again for the Blues, but contrary to popular belief, the Bosnian did little else. By no means was he to blame for the miserable performance, but his place in the team should have been filled by another midfielder who could have helped to combat Liverpool's energy.
(Philippe Coutinho epitomised the energy of Brendan Rodgers' young Liverpool side - image via Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
And energy has been one of many problems for Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester City this term. The Chilean was praised for the irresistible attacking football he brought to the club in his first season, but City now lack that vivacity. It's unsurprising when you consider that the average age of the squad is 29 - the oldest in the league.
The Premier League champions are due a major overhaul and Pellegrini has shown that he is incapable of effectively replacing the team's more influential stars. He must come to terms with the fact that he is working with a squad expertly pieced together by Roberto Mancini and that his own additions have largely failed to improve the side.
Eliaquim Mangala, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetić, Fernando, Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna - players the club have spent almost £100m on - have done little to help City progress from the Mancini era in which the club acquired the names fans will tell their grandchildren about in years to come. Fernandinho, Martin Demichelis and Frank Lampard mark Pellegrini's most successful imports, but with an average of 33, all three will need replacing in the near future.
(Fernando has failed to impress since joining the Blues in the summer - image via Alex Livesy/Getty Images)
Is Manuel Pellegrini the man to direct a new era at the club? His transfer record suggests not.
The man nicknamed 'The Engineer' still has time to manoeuvre his way out of trouble, but at present, his team stand little chance of progressing in Europe and wrestling back a potential 8-point-gap at the top of the Premier League table. Appetising league fixtures against Leicester City, Burnley, West Brom and Crystal Palace await the Blues, but City's vulnerable back line is already being sniffed out by the respective strikers of those clubs fighting for their lives at the pit of the table.
City's 2014/2015 season is petering out much like Roberto Mancini's fourth year at the helm did. Positives lie in the fact that the club have a wealth of promising talent to welcome back in the summer - Marcos Lopes, Jason Denayer and Karim Rekik have all impressed on their respective loan spells at Lille, Celtic and PSV Eindhoven, but if a top European manager makes himself available in three months time, Manuel Pellegrini will not be the man working with those youngsters.
