Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City need to “change things quickly” after suffering a fourth consecutive loss, this time to Brighton.
It’s the first time in his entire managerial career that Guardiola has lost four games in a row, and it’s the first time City has experienced such a run of defeats since 2006, under former boss Stuart Pearce.
City had taken the lead in the first half thanks to Erling Haaland, but Brighton turned the game around after the break.
Quick-fire goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O`Riley gave Brighton a 2-1 lead, and they looked the stronger side for much of the second half.
This defeat also means City lost a Premier League match in which they were ahead at halftime for the first time since May 2021, when they also lost to Brighton.
Guardiola, whose squad has been hit hard by injuries this season, said his team simply can`t seem to find their rhythm for a full 90 minutes.
"We played a good first half and had some good moments in the second, but we lost again," Guardiola said after the game.
"We need to clear our minds, take the international break, and hopefully have players come back fit. We need to start winning games again. Right now, we can’t sustain the rhythm for 90 minutes. Four defeats in a row is tough, and we need to change things fast. The schedule is tough, but we’ll see how things go when the players come back. After seven years of winning Premier Leagues, maybe this year another team deserves it."
During their losing streak, City have conceded 10 goals and scored just four, a worrying trend for the reigning champions.
With tough games coming up against Tottenham and Liverpool, right-back Kyle Walker believes the international break might come at just the right time for City to regroup.
“There are moments when things don’t go our way, when we’re a little late to challenges or things don’t click,” Walker said.
"It’s a tough period, but the break is a good chance to reset. It’s a mix of form and how we’re feeling each day. We’ve been lucky with success over the past eight years, but now is the time to show our character. We need to put our boots on, push through the tough times, and see who the real leaders are. We’ve never gone four games without a win, so it’s hard to accept, but we’re determined to turn this around."
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