Gary Neville says Man City's sanctions uncertainty may be affecting their form

Manchester City's recent slump in form has raised concern across the Premier League, with Gary Neville suggesting that the club's off-field legal situation is starting to affect the squad. City lost 3-1 away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, a result that leaves them six points behind Premier League leaders and reigning champions Arsenal.

A sharp fall after a strong start

City had started the 2026-27 season in dominant fashion, winning their opening seven league fixtures in a row. The defeat at the City Ground marked a sharp drop in standards and another damaging result for Enzo Maresca's side.

Neville points to off-field pressure

Speaking to NBC Sports after the final whistle, Neville said the uncertainty over possible severe sanctions is likely weighing heavily on the dressing room. The former Manchester United captain argued that the situation has become a major psychological hurdle for the club, which is facing intense public scrutiny.

"It's all everybody's talking about back home in the last month or so, and those players will be getting asked constantly, 'What do you think is going to happen? What happens if they do get relegated? Will you stay?'" Neville said. He added that families and agents are also dealing with those questions, meaning the issue "can't be ruled out as a factor that's going to start to seep in."

Neville was clear that City still need to improve on the pitch. He said that losing a match or two should not be used as an excuse, and that the team must compete better and improve tactically and physically. He nonetheless said he believed the off-field situation would be having some impact, given the weight of publicity over the previous four to six weeks.

Maresca cites intensity and duels

Maresca focused on what happened during the match. He was critical of his side's application in the opening 45 minutes at the City Ground, saying that failing to match the intensity and losing duels made the game difficult. "Then when we want to react, it's too late," the Italian explained.

Maresca admitted that City had made their task much harder. "First half we were not good enough in terms of duels, second balls - we lost all of them," he said. "Then when we went to react we were 2-0 down and in football that is always complicated."

A test of resilience ahead

City must now find a way to end their slump before the gap to Arsenal grows further. The club has been found guilty of 114 rule breaches, and the threat of severe sanctions, including relegation, remains. Maresca has said his team will need an immediate physical response in their upcoming fixtures, and further dropped points would add to the pressure on both the squad's form and its long-term future.