Pep Guardiola responded to Tuesday’s 4-1 Champions League loss at Sporting CP and a third straight setback for City by saying he is relishing the challenge of swiftly guiding the side back to winning ways.
City made a blistering start at the Estádio José Alvalade deservedly going ahead thanks to Phil Foden’s fourth minute strike and then spurning a host of other chances.
But the game turned on its head when Viktor Gyokeres levelled late in the first half for Ruben Amorin’s side in what was the Sporting manager’s last home game before he departs to take charge of Manchester United.
Sporting then scored two goals inside 90 seconds at the start of the second half through Maxi Araujo and a Gyokeres penalty to seize control of the contest.
Erling Haaland then saw a penalty hit the bar before Sporting hitman Gyokeres sealed victory late on by completing his hat-trick thanks to his second penalty of the night.
It represented a first Champions League loss this season – and a third defeat in a week for City following 2-1 defeats to Spurs and Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup and Premier League.
It also marked the first time Guardiola’s side have lost three consecutive games since April 2018.
But addressing the media afterwards, the boss said his focus and energy was solely trained on helping his players come up with a swift response to the setback.
WATCH: Match highlights: Sporting 4-1 City
“It is a tough challenge, but I am here. It will be a tough season – we knew that from the start. But this is what it is. I like it, I love it, I want to face it and lift my players and try it,” Pep declared.
“Life is like this. Maybe in the past six Premier Leagues in seven years and four in a row is an exception. Sometimes you lose.
“Today we were really good – Bournemouth, no, they deserve it. We played really bad against Bournemouth and played really good today.
“I know how we behave today, how good we were, and how a young central defender [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey]what an exceptional game he played.
“When you lose 4-1 what can I say? My team I like it, we were close to making it 0-3.
“The stadium was calm but in one action we lose simple things with quality players and things that normally don’t happen. When you are so close to going 0-2 and then 1-3, it’s difficult for the players, I understand it.
“I have to try and find an explanation. Sometimes it is just football.
“We have to accept it. Life is that, sport is that. Everyone has to be better and better and better and we will find it
“We are alive in all competitions, and we will continue.
“We are coming back to Manchester to prepare the game against Brighton. I am not giving up. Maybe people are waiting but I am not giving up.”
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