In Europe, there is currently no team in a better moment than FC Barcelona. Both in the League and in the Champions League, the culé’s superiority has been evident over the last month, where Hansi Flick’s men have won seven consecutive victories. Totally opposite is the reality of another of the most powerful teams on the continent, Manchester City.
On Saturday, the team led by Pep Guardiola fell on their visit to Brighton (2-1)adding their second consecutive defeat in the Premier League (the fourth in all competitions). The Mancunian team had just been beaten midweek against Sporting CP (4-1) and in the round of 16 of the League Cup, against Tottenham (2-1).
Erling Haaland had put the Cityzens ahead in the first half, but Brighton turned it around in the second half with goals from Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley. Despite the defeat, City remains second in the Premier League, but could be five points behind the leader, Liverpool, if the Reds beat Aston Villa.
At the moment, Pep Guardiola’s team has 23 points in 11 games (7 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses), 10 points less than Barça in LaLiga (33, with one more game). In addition, the team has already said goodbye to a title (the League Cup).
Pep Guardiola, before an unprecedented stage in Manchester
For the Santpedor coach, this is the first time in his career on the bench that he has had four defeats in a season. During his time at Barça and Bayern Munich, in addition to the previous eight seasons in Manchester, he had never had more than three falls in a row.
After the duel against Brighton, Pep was calm about the team’s performance, although he regretted the injuries that have affected the Mancunian collective performance. In addition, he criticized himself for losing so many points at the beginning of the season.
“After seven years where we have won six Premier Leagues, perhaps another team deserves it,” argued the Catalan coach. City have established overwhelming dominance in England, winning the league in six of the eight seasons with Guardiola in charge. Only in 2017 (his debut year) and 2020 was there a champion other than City.
