Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reportedly faced criticism from his own players following his side's 2-0 Premier League defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.
The loss left defending champions City trailing leaders Liverpool by 22 points in the table, and in a lock-in after the game Pep's players are believed to have voiced their concerns over his chopping and changing.
Guardiola is yet to name an unchanged line up in consecutive league games for Man City this season, and Sportsmail has revealed that his team have asked for some stability.
In a 45-minute dressing room inquiry, Guardiola laid everything on the line and asked his squad for a frank assessment of their season so far.
It was during theses so-called crisis talks that senior members of City's ranks came forward, questioning the manager's tendency to tweak his tactics and lineups this campaign.
The Spaniard has become the proverbial tinker man, making more changes than any other Premier League boss this season - 76 and counting.
Compare that to Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp who has made 30 fewer changes to his line up and it shows that Pep's charges have a point over the lack of consistency.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for City, nor is it the first time that Pep has had a heart-to-heart with his squad in the wake of a poor result.
Last January, a not-too-dissimilar dressing room scenario unfolded after City suffered a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James' Park.
On that occasion, airing their dirty laundry definitely worked as Pep's men went on to win all of their 14 remaining fixtures and pipped Klopp's side to the title.
Now, this season it would be more than far-fetched to believe the Cityzens still have a chance of retaining their Premier League crown, but champions of Europe is still a very real possibility.
Landing the club's first Champions League triumph has to be the main goal for City and Pep will be hoping this latest dressing room saga fires them to success.
It may be the reality check that City needed as they prepare for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 encounter with Real Madrid in just over three weeks time.
Pep's team will travel to the Bernabéu to face a Madrid side who are sitting pretty at the top of La Liga, a tough task where team togetherness is vital if they are to succeed.
The former Barcelona boss will be praying that the Spurs dressing down carries the same shock factor as the St James' episode and kick start City's second half of the season.
Source : 90min