Pep Guardiola is taking full responsibility for Manchester City’s recent dip, after an unprecedented fourth straight loss across competitions. In Saturday’s game, City fell 2-1 to Brighton, marking the first time in Guardiola’s career he’s suffered four consecutive defeats. Erling Haaland’s early goal gave City the lead, but substitute scorers João Pedro and Matt O’Riley led a resilient Brighton comeback.
City’s tough run also includes defeats to Bournemouth, Tottenham in the EFL Cup, and a 4-1 Champions League loss to Sporting Lisbon. Despite these setbacks, Guardiola believes his team can bounce back with some recovery time over the international break. He said, “We have to change it and get back to winning… this is my challenge – our challenge – and I’d like to face it. I will not step back at all. More than ever, I want to do it.”
When asked if this rough patch signals the end of City’s dominant era, Guardiola emphasized that injuries are impacting the squad’s depth. He noted, “It’s what the people want because we won a lot… But I would like to have all the squad to fight, and if someone [beats City] then congratulations. Not to give it away because we are not there.” With recent injuries to key players, City’s bench has been tested, including giving 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey his Premier League debut.
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler celebrated his team’s comeback, acknowledging City’s quality: “Manchester City are one of the best teams in the world and Pep Guardiola is one of the best coaches,” he said. Hürzeler expressed pride in Brighton’s performance but emphasized the need for his players to stay grounded.
