Emmanuel LANGELLIER, Media365, published on Sunday November 10, 2024 at 2:22 p.m.
After Manchester City's new setback on Saturday at Brighton (1-2) in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola appeared surprisingly defeated.
But what is happening to Manchester City? The beautiful mechanism, winner of several championships, several Cups, several League Cups, as well as the Champions League in recent years, suddenly became seized. Unthinkable, unimaginable, the reigning quadruple champions of England (6 coronations in the last 7 editions of the Premier League) led by Pep Guardiola have just conceded 4 consecutive defeats in all competitions! Falling in the 4th round of the League Cup to Tottenham (1-2) then in the championship to Bournemouth (1-2) and on the field of Sporting Portugal (1-4) in the Champions League, the Citizens lost again in the Premier League, Saturday at Brighton (1-2). A first since 2006 for the Mancunian club.
Guardiola: 'Maybe another team deserves to win'
4 losses in a row, this is the first time this has happened in Guardiola's career. “4 (defeats) in a row, we have to change things quickly,” said the Catalan coach after the new defeat. “We lost again, so we have to get our heads together, (get through) the international break and hope that our players will come back fit.” The 53-year-old Spaniard appeared defeated in front of journalists. “We are not capable of doing 90 minutes (at the highest level) at the moment. Against Brighton we weren't able to keep up the pace in the second half. Maybe after 6 Premier League titles won in 7 years, maybe another team deserves to win.” “I have this feeling, we’re not here. We can't do it every 3 or 4 days in this situation. I remember already saying that Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp, after winning the Champions League and the Premier League, saw one year Virgil van Dijk get injured 6 months, one year, a lot of injuries. They played in the Europa League. We need players to do it, but we don’t have them.” Is an era ending? “It’s certain, it’s not eternal,” Guardiola replied. For the next 55 years, City are not going to win the Premier League trophy every season, that's for sure, it's not going to happen, but try to be there, why not. That’s what I would like.”
Many absentees and executives in poor shape
Man City suffers from the absence of Rodri, his metronome in front of the defense seriously injured in the knee and crowned France Football Ballon d'Or a few days ago in Paris, but also other injuries. On Saturday, Nathan Aké, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and Jérémy Doku were also missing. For Kyle Walker, who appeared in difficulty at Brighton like Phil Foden, the reasons for the current bad situation are “multiple: it's the form, it's our state of mind from day to day. » “We have been fortunate to have success here over the last eight years. “It’s time to show character, put on the boots and get in the mud,” the English defender told Sky Sports. After 11 days of PL, City are 2nd, now 5 points behind Liverpool, who defeated Aston Villa (2-0), on Saturday evening.
