“After six trophies, I probably deserve another team” – Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his side could qualify for the Premier League if other teams succeed.
The Blues have won six of the last seven Premier League titles, including four in a row, but are five points behind leaders Liverpool after losing 2-1 at Brighton.
Manager Guardiola lost four games in a row (excluding penalties) for the first time in his 17 years as manager, and it was the first time Manchester City had lost four games in a row in Stuart Pearce’s 18 years as manager.
In recent weeks they have lost to Bournemouth and Brighton in the league, Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and Sporting in the Champions League.
“We have to try to win games again,” Guardiola told BBC Match of the Day. “We [lost] four times in a row. We need to change the situation quickly.
“The schedule will be tough, but [the wins] will come when the players come back.”
He added: “Maybe after winning six Premier League titles in seven years, another team deserves to win it.”
Despite being called up to the England squad, City are suffering from injuries to Ruben Diaz, John Stones, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish, while Rodri and Oscar Babb are also out for long periods.
Centre-backs Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji were only fit for the bench. It means Guardiola has handed 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey his first Premier League starting role.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: “It’s a sport. Sport is not always sunny.
The weather is not always good. “I was asked today at a press conference if this was the end of an era. I know people want it.
I have felt this for years. “What we have achieved in the last few years is as difficult as they say, but whoever tries to beat us will win because for the next 50 years we won’t be able to beat anyone in the Premier League.” – It’s impossible.
Manager Guardiola suffered three straight defeats and a penalty shootout defeat in their fourth game against Bayern Munich in 2014/15.
His worst spell as City manager was three consecutive defeats. Guardiola recently told Sky Sports: “There are two in the Premier League. Wins and losses are important.
I won a lot. “If you look at the streak, we’ve got a long way to go.”
Losing two league games in a row is “not a good thing” but City are “not far off” as they sit in second place heading into the international break.
City took a first-half lead against Brighton on Saturday thanks to Erling Haaland’s 12th Premier League goal of the season. The Blues dominated most of the first half with Brighton having 67% possession and five shots on target.
Things changed though with just one goal after the break compared to Brighton’s four goals.
City looked lethargic throughout the second half as Brighton substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Reilly scored. It was the first time since 2021 that City have lost a Premier League game after taking the lead in the first half.
Speaking on Match of the Day, former City defender Micah Richards said: “The biggest thing for me is that they don’t put too much pressure on you. “Losing the best midfielder in Europe (Rodri) always hurts the team.
But these days it’s too easy to play against them. “Now we can’t keep him for 90 minutes,” Guardiola added. “We played well in the first half, but we couldn’t keep up the pace in the second half. “We lost again, hopefully we can clear our heads in the international break and get the players healthy.
“There is no doubt that if the players come back we will be at our best again,” Guardiola added at a news conference.
City have struggled since the break with games against Tottenham, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Aston Villa before Christmas.
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