Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Man City's Pep loses 4 straight games for 1st time

Written by 
Published in Soccer
Saturday, 09 November 2024 14:04

Pep Guardiola is enduring the worst statistical run of his managerial career after Manchester City lost their fourth straight game on Saturday.

Brighton came from behind to beat the English champions 2-1 in the Premier League to leave second-placed City five points behind leaders Liverpool.

City haven't lost four games in a row in all competitions since 2006 -- two years before the Abu Dhabi takeover of the club and 10 years before Guardiola's game-changing arrival on the blue side of Manchester.

As for Guardiola, widely regarded as the world's best coach, he has never lost four straight matches anywhere in his illustrious time in management that began in 2007.

The closest he has come was in the 2014-15 season when, at Bayern Munich, his team lost in a penalty shootout in the German Cup followed by three straight defeats -- two in the Bundesliga, when Bayern had already clinched the title, and once in the Champions League.

So, Guardiola was asked, is this the end of the era, after leading City to an unprecedented four straight top-flight league titles?

"It's what the people want, right?" he posed. "That's normal -- we won a lot. I would just like to have all the squad [available]."

That won't be happening anytime soon considering star center midfielder Rodri, this year's Ballon d'Or winner, is out for the season with an ACL injury. Guardiola also had his best four center backs -- Rúben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Aké -- unavailable, while playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is clearly not sharp or fit enough on his return from injury.

"When we play bad, I am the first to say, 'Oh, oh, I don't like it.' But I don't have that feeling," Guardiola said.

Indeed, City were dominant in the first half and went in front when Erling Haaland scored his league-leading 12th goal of the campaign.

However, like in the 4-1 loss at Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday, City couldn't sustain its level in the second half and Brighton fought back, with Joao Pedro equalizing in the 78th and setting up Matt O'Riley for the winner in the 83rd on his Premier League debut.

City's losing run started at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup last week, before a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth in the league -- their first league defeat in 11 months.

For Guardiola, it's simple. City's squad cannot cope with all its injuries while the fixtures are coming thick and fast.

"We cannot do it every three days, three days, four days, three days with the [injury] situation we have," he said, adding with an air of desperation, "I would love to have the players [back]."

Captain Kyle Walker was more blunt it what Man City need to reverse their slump.

"It's down to us as a group of players to make sure that we're fighting for this great club," he told Sky Sports. "It's tough to take, and I can assure you everyone wants to turn it around as quickly as possible."

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Read 22 times

Soccer

Kylian Mbappé's poor form will end - Ancelotti

Kylian Mbappé's poor form will end - Ancelotti

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCarlo Ancelotti has backed Kylian Mbappé to end his poor run of for...

Leverkusen's Schick nets hat-trick in comeback win

Leverkusen's Schick nets hat-trick in comeback win

Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick bagged a hat-trick on Saturday to help the German champions b...

Ronaldo's Saudi title hopes hurt by Aubameyang

Ronaldo's Saudi title hopes hurt by Aubameyang

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo's hopes of lifting his first silverware since mov...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

EmailPrintThe NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes followi...

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

EmailPrintNew Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has undergone multiple treatments on his left ha...

Baseball

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge is one of the few people on Earth who can r...

Rockies agree to one-year deal with IF Farmer

Rockies agree to one-year deal with IF Farmer

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDENVER -- The Colorado Rockies agreed to a one-year deal Saturday w...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated