The Inside Gist:
- Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is again… Hopeful that City would get better in the remaining games, especially before November ends
- Apparently, Man City has two more games to play in November and a total of ten more games until the year is over
Ahead of the upcoming games before the month runs out, City’s manager Pep Guardiola says City are not reaching their high standards but are struggling with injuries to the likes of Ruben Dias, John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne, and Jack Grealish.
Guardiola advised the team to not be complacent when City wins a lot. But, regardless of the four consecutive losses, he is still hopeful that “we will recover our best.”
Recall: Brighton & Hove Albion F.C beat Man City in what later became a 2-1 in favor of Brighton. Due to that win, Guardiola now holds a record in his career… A record of losing at four consecutive matches. City hasn’t recorded this loss since they did in 2021.
But, that’s just part of the game, as Guardiola has since the last loss continued to urge his players to not lose focus. A part of his press release is obtained, where he is quoted as saying in part regarding the team’s injury lineup:
“That’s what it is always about – not being complacent when you win a lot… We know how difficult it is and how nice it will be when we win again.’
‘Right now, we are not at our best, it’s obvious. But it’s still November – we’ll recover our best.’
Fact-check: Midfielder Rodri and Oscar Bobb are other notable absentees for City, with Guardiola handing a debut to 19-year-old central defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey against Brighton.
Well. That gave City away a bit because Liverpool took advantage of City’s struggles to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League table by beating Aston Villa. City is now deliberating on signing Martin Zubimendi to replace Rodri come January 2025.
A lot is at stake for Manchester City: To the uncertainties, Guardiola added that his side are not immune to losing, despite their stellar run in recent years which included a 32-match unbeaten streak in the league before the defeat by Bournemouth at the beginning of November.
“I was a football player and many times I lost a lot of games – four, five, six in a row… I never expect [anything] different, just because we won in the past or that we are special… People can believe that, but it’s not true.”
On the news in the past: City had a lean spell in the autumn of 2023 which included one win in six, before recovering to secure the Premier League title again. But, that’s all in the past now.
Keep upcoming games in mind: Before November runs out, Manchester City will play against Tottenham later on November 23, 2024, under Premier League England at 18:30 and Feyenoord on November 26, 2024, under Champions League at 21:00.
