As Man City continue to fall deeper and deeper into a slump, Pep Guardiola is facing a splash of cold water to the face as his side slips further into the doldrums.
Guardiola has been forced to come to terms with the longest losing streak of his managerial career, losing a fourth-straight match across all competitions as Man City capitulated at Brighton by a 2-1 score. The defending Premier League champions were done in by a late comeback, conceding goals in the 78th and 83rd minutes to a lively and dangerous home side.
With Man City now a full five points behind leaders Liverpool, their prospects of winning a fifth straight Premier League title appear to be weakening, even with over half the season still to play.
Guardiola admitted the run could be coming to an end, as the club can’t realistically win the league championship endlessly.
“Is the era going to come to an end, for sure, it’s not eternal,” Guardiola said after the Brighton defeat. “For the next 56 years City are not going to win every game in the Premier League, that’s for sure, but try to be there, why not, this is what I would like.”
While the Spaniard remained level-headed and realistic about the situation, a fourth straight defeat still had to be jarring to him, as it had never previously occurred in his career.
“Normally people lose games,” Guardiola told the media. “Always a first time in your life. This is my challenge, our challenge. I like to face it. I will not step back at all, less than ever. More than ever I want to do it and we will try again.”
The loss of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has proven exceedingly difficult to compensate for. Against Brighton, City conceded only 10 shots, but an astonishing eight of those were considered “big chances” by Opta stats.
