(Reuters) – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is facing what would be an unwanted managerial first if his team loses their fourth consecutive game when they play at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
City were eliminated from the League Cup in a loss to Tottenham Hotspur, suffered a shock 2-1 league loss at Bournemouth and were then thrashed 4-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday by Portuguese side Sporting, coached by future Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Yet Guardiola was optimistic City, who trail leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table by two points, can right the ship, saying they were solid in large stretches of their three losses.
“There always is a first time (to lose four straight), hopefully it is not the case,” Guardiola told reporters. “Twenty minutes against Fulham we were not good, against Bournemouth we were not good, but the rest of the games we were good. We are good. We will see what happens.”
While Guardiola has never lost four straight as a manager, City did go six games in a row without a win in his first season in charge in 2016-17.
The manager will not have Jack Grealish back from injury for Saturday, he said, despite interim England manager Lee Carsley naming Grealish in his squad for the upcoming international break.
John Stones and Ruben Dias, who were also absent on Tuesday, are not expected to return for their clash with Brighton.
“No good news,” the manager said. “The same, I think, as Lisbon.”
While City midfielder Bernardo Silva said the team are “in a dark place” after their humbling loss in Portugal, Guardiola said his players are not in any need of extra reassurance.
“I don’t think so. Of course, we are not used to losing three games in three different competitions but it is football and it has happened,” the Catalan said.
“We know the reason why we struggle but we are looking forward to this game and after the international break, and after that a few players will be back and recovered. All the little problems we have with players will be solved. I hope.”
With his managerial contract set to expire at the end of this season, Guardiola was asked whether he had a trip to Abu Dhabi to meet with City’s owners planned for the international break.
“No,” was all he would say on the subject.
Guardiola signed his last two contract extensions during November international breaks.
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