Pep Guardiola admits that his Manchester City side are “struggling” after going four Premier League games without a win.
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Defending champions dropping pointsHave gone four games without a winCould still end 2023 with another trophyWHAT HAPPENED?
The reigning champions – who collected a historic Treble in 2022-23 – have dropped points against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa. A 1-0 defeat was suffered at Villa Park last time out, with City now sat fourth in the table – six points back on leaders Arsenal but with time still very much on their side when it comes to successfully defending a domestic crown.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT GUARDIOLA SAID
Guardiola said after seeing his side come undone in the West Midlands: “The better team won. I said to the players: ‘In football, this happens. I know you wanted to win, I know you tried, because you have proved to me and everyone many, many times.’ Now the results are not so good when they always were [previously]. I have to think about it. I have to sleep, to reflect, I have to see the games, how the players [did] with this one and try to do it. It was really difficult because they are really physical and able to control many aspects. That is the reason why they are up there, playing good football and we could not do it. It’s my duty, my job to find a way to come back from the situation because over many years together we were able to find a way to play games – sometimes playing good, sometimes not but always we found a way to do it – and now we are struggling. We have to change the dynamic.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
City had just two shots against Villa – the fewest a side managed by Guardiola has ever managed – while Villa fired in 22. Leon Bailey’s deflected effort proved to be the difference on the day, with the visitors left to reflect on records that they would rather not be posting.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?
Nobody is writing City off just yet and they could still end 2023 with another trophy to their name, with Guardiola’s side set to jet off for FIFA Club World Cup duty after taking in Premier League meetings with Luton and Crystal Palace and a final Champions League group stage clash with Crvena zvezda.