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After a loss on Saturday night second-place City, who have won six of the past seven Premier League titles, including four in a row, missed the chance to go top of the table.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola. (Picture Credit: AP)
It has been too lonely at the top for City, who have been serial winners of the Premier League and perhaps it’s time that someone else takes the mantle, said Pep Guardiola after his Manchester side’s 2-1 loss to Brighton on Saturday.
The loss yesterday marked the Spaniard’s fourth successive defeat in all competitions this season, the first time he’s ever faced this scenario in his managerial career.
After a loss on Saturday night second-place City, who have won six of the past seven Premier League titles, including four in a row, missed the chance to go top and now sit five points behind the leaders Liverpool.
“Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserve it,” he told BBC Sport.
The result came against the backdrop of six senior absences for the Blues through injury in Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, John Stones and Ruben Dias plus the long-term absentees of Ballon d’Or winner Rodrigo and Oscar Bobb.
“Results can be similar. The point is we don’t have the players. All four central defenders are injured. Rodri, the best player, is not there. De Bruyne away from his best. Doku injured, Jack injured. In one game we can do it but to be consistent we cannot. The second half can use Manu, Nathan and Ruben,” post-match press conference
“Don’t misunderstand me, it looks like I’m complaining about the players we played but we played really good. But to play previous seasons we had the squad. Now we don’t have it. We have to survive with that. We have to live with that,” he said.
Guardiola and City may be down for the moment, but they are nowhere near out, as the Spaniard believes that a change of fortune shall follow once their injured members join the ranks back after the international break.
“I will reflect in these ten days, clear our heads, players come back fit, this is the target.”
“When the players come back I have no doubts we’ll be back to the best. This is my challenge, I love a challenge. I won’t step back, more than ever I want to do it. We will try again. We try to analyse how we perform – four in a row. Okay. The question is how we are playing,” said Guardiola.
After the international break, City will next host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League before facing Dutch side Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League.
(inputs from agencies)