Troubled Pep Guardiola reacts to fourth straight Manchester City defeat

Manchester City is struggling to find its form, suffering a disappointing four-match losing streak following a 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manager Pep Guardiola has pointed to a series of injuries as a key factor affecting the team’s performance. The squad is currently missing several pivotal players, including Nathan Ake, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, Rodri, and Oscar Bobb.

In a post-match analysis, Guardiola admitted, “The first half we should, not open the game, it was open, but have the control, and we could not, and we are not at the level right now to sustain 90 minutes.”

He highlighted that while the first half showed promise, fatigue set in during the second half, undermining the team’s efforts. Guardiola remains optimistic that the upcoming international break could serve as a crucial period for recovery, hoping to see injured players return and the team regain its competitive edge.

“We need to clear our heads, go into the international break, and for players to come back fit. The success that they had the last seasons were because we had fewer injuries,” he stressed.

Reflecting on the current challenges, Guardiola downplayed the significance of the streak, stating, “There is always a first time.” However, he recognizes the urgent need for improvement to return to the level of performance that has characterized the team in recent seasons.

This challenging stretch brings to mind Guardiola’s previous toughest period as a manager, which occurred during the 2014/15 season with Bayern Munich, where he experienced three consecutive losses and a penalty shootout defeat.