Manchester City’s Injury Crisis Deepens as Star Winger Joins Lengthy List of Absentees

Pep Guardiola provided updates on Manchester City’s recent challenges after their 2-1 loss to Brighton, marking a rare fourth consecutive defeat for the reigning Premier League champions. Erling Haaland initially put City ahead, but a resilient Brighton, under manager Fabian Hurzeler, turned the game around with goals from Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley.

Reflecting on Brighton’s play, Guardiola praised Hurzeler’s squad, saying, “Really, really good… how he links inside is aggressive, really, really good play,” while noting the influence of former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi on their style.

Guardiola also addressed Jeremy Doku’s absence due to “muscular problems in his quadriceps,” which prevented him from running at full speed. A reassessment is planned after the international break, which Guardiola welcomes as a chance to reset. “I think everybody needs it,” he said, looking forward to having key players like Ruben Dias and John Stones back.

On coping with the team’s recent losses, Guardiola emphasized his experience with setbacks. “You can lose four games in different competitions… it’s about how you perform,” he explained, insisting City’s mentality remains strong despite recent challenges. Guardiola also shared his reflective perspective, stating, “This period we will reflect… four in a row, six in seven years… I don’t take it for granted.”

Acknowledging the high expectations surrounding City, Guardiola stressed, “Before the season, ‘Ah, City are going to win again, easy, right?’… but it’s November, so hopefully we come back and step by step we do it.” He assured fans of his commitment to a steady return to form and emphasized that each game in the league poses a challenge, underscoring his focus on long-term recovery for the squad.

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