Keeping faith with youth could have halted the rot at Manchester City

Manchester City’s slump continues to amaze. Judging by those lingering camera shots where he cannot hide a combination of sorrow and bemusement, Pep Guardiola numbers among the amazed. He appears powerless to restore their dominance, to stop his team becoming just another vulnerable side.

When a team enter decline, talk of a “clear-out” is soon to follow. These are the dark murmurings heard in the concourses at the Etihad Stadium, a place of deep unhappiness as the empire collapses. Guardiola is yet to feel the brunt of disquiet.