Manchester City‘s rough patch continued with another Premier League loss, this time against Brighton & Hove Albion. Entering the game on the heels of three consecutive defeats—a run they haven’t seen since 2018—the pressure was on Pep Guardiola and his side.
City took an early lead when Erling Haaland scored in the 23rd minute, holding onto that narrow advantage into halftime. But in a five-minute stretch in the second half, Brighton staged a comeback, with two quick goals securing a memorable victory for Fabian Hurzeler’s team and deepening City’s struggles.
Despite the ongoing losing streak, Guardiola singled out Jahmai Simpson-Pusey for praise after his performance against Brighton. Speaking to Ryan Taylor, Guardiola shared his admiration for the young defender, stating, “The young lad played really good. It’s not easy for him. The young players usually come in with support from Rodri. He performed unbelievably & we have a central defender to help us for the future.“
Simpson-Pusey, who was given his first start against Sporting in the recent Champions League defeat, also earned Guardiola’s praise in that challenging match. Reflecting on both Simpson-Pusey and Rico Lewis, Guardiola said, “The young lad [Simpson-Pusey] played incredible. Rico as well. When you play a lot of games, you can’t play with the same line-up or the same back-four.“
Over the full 90 minutes against Brighton, the 19-year-old Simpson-Pusey showed his potential, registering two clearances, a blocked shot, and a tackle. While the losses are undoubtedly frustrating, the opportunities to gain first-team experience and receive Guardiola’s commendation mark a positive step for the young defender.
With City now pausing for the international break, it will be interesting to see if Guardiola continues to feature Simpson-Pusey in the lineup, regardless of the defensive options available once play resumes.
