Pep Guardiola's sharp reaction

Nothing is going well at Manchester City. Beaten for the third time in a row, the Skyblues were humiliated last night by Sporting Portugal (4-1). After losing first place in the Premier League standings, Pep Guardiola's men remain in a good position in C1, but they can no longer put one foot in front of the other. Deprived of several key players, several of them injured, the Cityzens are in tough times.

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“It's difficult to find the reasons for what's happening to us now, I don't remember losing three times in a row in the seven and a half years I've been here. We are in a dark place, everything seems to be going in the wrong direction”explained Bernardo Silva last night. A pessimism that his coach Pep Guardiola does not necessarily share, even if the Spaniard recognized that his team was not going through its best period.

Guardiola won't give up

“I don’t agree with him. We played very poorly against Bournemouth and played very well today. The only regret is having conceded the third and fourth goals. It's not easy to swallow, but it's an experience and I'm here. When you play a lot of matches, you can't play with the same team and the same four defenders. We had these problems from day one, but it is what it is. Today is a difficult moment in terms of results. » But for some, these poor results may be linked to a possible end of the cycle. Between the departure of Txiki Begiristain (who will be replaced by Hugo Viana) and Pep Guardiola still mysterious about his future (he is free at the end of the season), all the elements are there to witness the end of Guardiola's reign.

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But don't count on the Catalan to give up. “It’s a big challenge. I knew the season would be difficult, but it is what it is. I like it, I love it, I want to face it, raise my players. Life is like that. Perhaps six Premier Leagues in seven years is an exception. (…) I want to fight and not give up, I like the challenge that awaits me as a coach. I'm not giving up, maybe people are waiting for it, but I'm not giving up. I want to take on the challenge and encourage the players. The players who want to follow me will be there. It’s football”swore the Spaniard, who even took the opportunity to respond in his own way to the rumors announcing a renewed interest from the Brazilian selection. “After losing 4-1, I am no longer an option for Brazil. More than ever, I want to lift this team and bring it back to its best level. » It's said.