"I don’t know what will happen this season" - Pep Guardiola makes big admission after Manchester City suffer 4-0 loss vs Tottenham
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his team is "fragile" following a stunning 4-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium yesterday (November 23).
The defeat ended City’s remarkable 52-match unbeaten home run in all competitions and plunged the Premier League champions into their worst form under Guardiola. The Cityzens now have consecutive defeats in league and cup competitions.
Guardiola conceded he is uncertain about what the season holds for his side. Here's what he told BBC Sport:
"I don’t know what will happen this season. But not for one second will I stop believing in these players. There is no team in the world that can sustain success for eight, nine, ten years in a row."
A brace from James Maddison (13', 20') and goals from Pedro Porro (52') and Brennan Johnson (90+3') handed Spurs a dominant victory. Manchester City are now five points adrift of league leaders Liverpool. The gap could widen to eight points if Liverpool beat Southampton on Sunday.
Guardiola admitted:
"We are fragile at the moment. We could not defend properly. We started well, struggled to score, and then conceded. Then the situation becomes more difficult."
The defeat marked Manchester City’s first Premier League home loss since November 2022 and highlighted their struggles without key players like Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.
"Of course, Rodri is important. But we knew that for many months. Kevin, two months out and five months before that. We have to come back and freshen our minds," Guardiola added.
He also pointed out how frequent injuries to Jack Grealish and John Stones have impacted Manchester City's depth and consistency. The Cityzens have struggled to find their rhythm and looked devoid of any creativity against Spurs.
Guardiola calls for unity amid Manchester City's unprecedented losing streak
Guardiola, known for his tactical brilliance, is enduring the first five-game losing streak of his managerial career. Despite the challenges, he remains focused on the long-term, stating that the team needs to stick together.
Reflecting on his previous experiences, he said (as per the aforementioned source):
"There are no fairy tales in life and sport. Sometimes you have to live through these situations. You have to accept it. What defines us is when we fail, we stand up and face it."
The City boss also pointed to late international returns and injuries as contributing factors to the team’s struggles:
"The players came back late [from internationals]. There were a few reasons we’re not able to be consistent. Now the balance is not in the right moment."
Guardiola now faces a critical week, with City hosting Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday before traveling to Anfield for a crucial clash with Liverpool next weekend (December 1) .
He acknowledged the enormity of the task ahead but urged his players to rise to the occasion. For Manchester City fans, the next seven days could provide answers to whether their team can recover its form and reignite their Premier League title challenge.