Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has defiantly faced the media following his team’s 4-1 Champions League loss to Sporting CP in Lisbon—a defeat that marked the third consecutive loss for City. This latest setback has thrown City into a period of disarray, as Guardiola’s side now confronts their worst run of results since 2018.
The defeat to Sporting came just days after a disappointing loss in the Premier League to Arsenal and a shock exit in the Carabao Cup. City’s current losing streak has raised concerns among supporters, with the club’s once-unbreakable dominance now being questioned. However, Guardiola, who is no stranger to challenges, has shown no signs of backing down.
This latest loss in Lisbon was City’s third straight defeat, a rare occurrence under Guardiola’s leadership. The last time the team experienced such a run was during the 2016-17 season when Guardiola was still settling into life in English football. That season, City went through a turbulent period before finding their rhythm and finishing in third place, showing that recovery is possible even after tough spells.
While Guardiola is clearly disappointed by the results, he has rejected the comments made by City captain Bernardo Silva, who called the team’s current situation a “dark place.” Guardiola, while acknowledging the pain of consecutive losses, refused to buy into the idea of a crisis at the club. Instead, he accepted that setbacks like these are part of the unpredictable nature of football.
“After a defeat like this, words often don’t mean much,” Guardiola said in his post-match comments. “But we knew it would be a tough season from the start. I like it. I love it. I want to face this challenge head-on. I will not give up, not now, not ever.”
Guardiola is no stranger to tough times. He reflected on the difficult moments during his first season in charge at City, recalling how the team struggled with consistency but eventually found their way. “It happened in my first year,” he remarked. “Sometimes things don’t go the way you want, but that’s football. It’s the way of life—sometimes you have bad moments, but you face reality, and you keep pushing.”
City’s current form has been affected by injuries to key players. The absence of Kyle Walker has been keenly felt in defense, while the midfield has lacked the influence of Kevin de Bruyne, who was only risked for a brief cameo in Lisbon. Defensive midfielder Rodri is also sidelined for the remainder of the season due to injury, leaving Guardiola with a depleted squad.
Despite these setbacks, Guardiola remains confident that his team will turn things around. “Everyone has to try to be better,” he stated. “We are still alive in all competitions, and we will continue to fight. We are going through a tough period, but we must keep going.”
Looking ahead, City faces another difficult away trip to Brighton on Saturday. Guardiola’s challenge will be to motivate his squad to avoid a fourth consecutive loss, something that would only further exacerbate the pressure on him and his players. The City manager will be hoping that his side can rally together and deliver a performance that restores some confidence.
For Bernardo Silva, the current period is a difficult one, as the Portuguese midfielder expressed frustration with the team’s form. “It’s tough to understand why things are going wrong for us right now,” Silva said. “In my seven and a half seasons here, I can’t remember a time when we’ve lost three in a row like this. We’re in a dark place right now, and it feels like everything is going against us.”
Silva, however, acknowledged that despite the setbacks, City remains in good positions in both the Premier League and the Champions League. They are currently second in the Premier League, just two points behind Liverpool, and they sit in a strong position in their Champions League group. Despite the recent losses, City are still in contention for the top spots in both competitions.
“The good thing is that even though we’ve lost three games, we are still in good positions in both the Premier League and the Champions League,” Silva said. “We’re still fighting for everything, but we need to do better. This current form is just not good enough for a club of our stature.”
In the Premier League, City remains in the title race, but the pressure is mounting. They trail leaders Liverpool by two points but are four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest. In the Champions League, City are currently ranked sixth in their group, though they could slip out of the top eight when the second round of group-stage matches is completed.
Despite the challenges, Guardiola remained upbeat about City’s potential, drawing a comparison with other clubs that are struggling. In particular, Guardiola pointed out that City’s current position is far more positive than that of rivals Manchester United, who have had their own struggles this season. United will soon face the challenge of a new manager in Ruben Amorim, and Guardiola was asked about the prospect of coming up against Amorim’s side when he takes over at Old Trafford next week.
“Yes, Ruben Amorim will be United’s new manager, and we will face him twice in the Premier League and maybe in the FA Cup as well,” Guardiola said. “In the Champions League, it is not possible, but it will be interesting to face him. United have their own challenges, but I’m focused on our team and our improvement.”
Guardiola’s focus remains on City’s recovery, despite the growing pressure. The manager’s calm resolve in the face of adversity is one of his defining characteristics, and he is determined to guide his side back to their best form. “We will find our way,” Guardiola concluded. “We have been through tough times before, and we will overcome this one.”
As Manchester City prepares for their next fixture against Brighton, all eyes will be on Guardiola and his team as they aim to halt their losing streak and get their season back on track. The coming weeks will be crucial for City as they look to find the consistency that has made them one of the most formidable teams in Europe in recent years.
Guardiola’s experience and leadership will be vital in navigating this difficult period, and City’s supporters will be hoping that the manager’s words of defiance can inspire the team to rise above their current struggles. With their season still very much alive, the question remains: can Manchester City turn things around, or will they continue to fight in the “dark place” that Guardiola refuses to acknowledge?