Manchester City's Title Defence in Danger of Early Collapse After QPR Draw

Manchester City came from behind twice to draw, 2-2, with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, a result which leaves them eight points behind leaders Chelsea after just 11 games.

There’s a nervousness and indecisiveness sweeping across a squad of players who, with the exception of a handful of summer signings, were celebrating winning the Premier League just six months ago. Manuel Pellegrini, who revolutionised City’s play last season and won two trophies in an impressive campaign, needs to find something extra from his players. And fast.

Another title isn’t an impossibility. Eight points, although a concern, is a deficit City can make up, but if Pellegrini can’t find answers quickly and reinvigorate his side immediately after the international break, their title defence is in serious danger of collapse.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

The one player exempt from the confidence crisis sweeping the City squad is Sergio Aguero, who scored two wonderful goals and could have had more in what was one of the finest performances from a striker this season. He has now scored 12 of City’s 22 league goals, and without him, their poor run would likely have been far worse.

It’s now just one win in their last six across all competitions, including three defeats, or five wins in 15 if you want to go back further. And of the 17 matches they’ve played in total, they’ve won just seven.

It looks like regression, whichever way you spin it. However, they have more points after 11 league games than they did 12 months ago. At this stage last season, City were eighth in table with just 19 points. In that context, third with 21 points looks OK. The problem, of course, is that Chelsea look far stronger than anything City faced last season. The West Londoners remain undefeated, winning nine and drawing two of their 11 league games so far. 

More of a concern for Pellegrini will be the level of performance his players are managing. Their play is disjointed and ponderous, with the pace and incisiveness that defined their title win seemingly gone. Some have suggested a dogmatic insistence on playing 4-4-2 has been the problem, but Pellegrini packed the midfield in this game and his players still struggled. It’s a confidence issue rather than a tactical one.

Gael Clichy epitomises the problem. One or two good performances aside, including last weekend in the derby win over Manchester United, he’s been dreadful all season, looking a beaten man too often when a player runs at him.

Much of the anger, from both the media and City's fans, has been focused on Eliaquim Mangala, but City’s 23-year-old summer recruit has hardly had his passage into City first team eased by those around him.

Tom Dulat/Getty Images

It was hardly a surprise that City struggled in this game, and that should be of huge concern to the champions. QPR began the day just goal difference away from being bottom, but in recent weeks, they’ve shown serious signs of improvement. In Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora, they have a throwback centre-forward pairing that will give most sides problems.

City, on the other hand, came into the match off the back of their worst display in recent seasons—the Wednesday defeat to CSKA Moscow—and have struggled to put any kind of momentum together at any stage during the current campaign.

And it was Austin who gave the home side the lead with a low drive, after having a goal ruled out earlier when Joe Hart had taken two touches of a free kick. But City struck back 10 minutes later. The much-maligned Mangala played an inch-perfect ball over the top to Aguero, whose first touch was sublime, before twisting and turning and unleashing a left-foot drive past Rob Green.

An own goal from Martin Demichelis after a wicked Austin cross put QPR ahead with 15 minutes left, but Aguero spared City’s blushes with one more outstanding goal, including another world-class first touch and scooped finish. There can be few better out-and-out strikers in world football at this moment in time.

Afterward, Pellegrini said he felt his side deserved more from what was a pulsating game, but admitted his side’s defending is a concern:

"

MP: At least, we deserved a draw.

— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) November 8, 2014"

"

MP: (Are you happy with your defending?) No. It was not a great performance in defence.

— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) November 8, 2014"

The international break, for once, feels well-timed for City. Their form is awful and they need a chance to reflect. Pellegrini must spend the time away from the majority of his players to find something extra, something innovative, to improve his team's performance, because right now their title is in danger of slipping away.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.