Pep Guardiola confessed Manchester City’s recent struggles to compete for a full 90 minutes after Brighton dealt the Premier League champions a fourth straight defeat with a dramatic 2-1 comeback at the Amex Stadium.
Despite taking an early lead through Erling Haaland, City’s form crumbled in the closing minutes. Joao Pedro equalised, and Matt O’Riley struck the winner with seven minutes left, handing Guardiola his first four-game losing streak in his career.
“Today, we played very well in the first half but couldn’t finish the game,” Guardiola reflected.
“We were not consistent to maintain our game and our intensity and press and be aggressive for 90 minutes. The level we are playing is really good in certain moments, but we are not able to continue for a long time. I’m pretty sure when the players come back (after the international break) and we make some individual qualities in the team, we’ll be back.”
The loss adds to a troubling period for City, following a League Cup exit to Tottenham, a league loss to Bournemouth, and a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Sporting Lisbon. Now trailing five points behind leaders Liverpool, City’s fifth successive title bid looks uncertain.
Injury issues have compounded City’s decline, with key defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones unavailable, leaving 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey to start in central defence. The young backline wilted under pressure, as City’s title hopes took another blow.
Guardiola remains optimistic despite the setback, saying, “Normally people lose games, right? Always there’s a first time in life. This is my challenge, our challenge, and I like to face it. I will not step back at all. More than ever, I want to do it. We will try again.”
However, he acknowledged that after years of dominance, this season might be different: “Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserves it.”