Guardiola admits tough times after Manchester United loss

Pep Guardiola has reflected on Manchester City’s 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United, acknowledging the team is struggling to find its rhythm amid a difficult run of form.

Speaking after the match at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola expressed frustration at City’s inability to maintain their usual fluent style of play, pointing to poor decision-making and a lack of sharpness as key issues.

“We are not, I would say, nice in the way we play,” Guardiola said. “Before it was so fluent, and now we struggle for different reasons.”

The defeat sees City drop to fifth on the Premier League table, with their eighth loss in 11 matches underscoring their recent struggles. Guardiola admitted the team’s current form is hard to explain and that defensive errors have played a significant role.

“We give away many things. At this level, it’s more difficult. When you lose a lot of games, you cannot talk about big targets,” he said.

The City boss also acknowledged that his attempts to address the team’s slump have yet to yield results.

“I’m the manager of these players and this club. I have to find a solution, and so far, I haven’t found it. This is the truth,” Guardiola said.

Despite the challenges, Guardiola is determined to lift his players and turn their season around.

“We need results to lift our mood. When it keeps happening, it gets worse and worse. The reality is like this,” he said.

City will look to bounce back this Saturday when they face Aston Villa away, in a crucial match to regain momentum and stay in touch with the Premier League’s top four.