Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ready to get team on track: Not giving up

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he is relishing the challenge to get his side back on track after being thrashed by Sporting CP on November 5, Tuesday. City suffered their first loss of the season in the Champions League.

In Short

• City are on a 3-match losing streak at the moment
• Guardiola remains optimistic and committed to reviving team's performance
• City will face Brighton next on November 9 in the Premier League

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has claimed that he is relishing the challenge of lifting his team and players once again after their 4-1 loss to Sporting CP on Tuesday, November 5. Guardiola would see his side blow an early lead and fall to a second half blitz from the Portuguese side to give them their first loss of the season in the UEFA Champions League.

The loss in Europe followed two recent disappointments, the first being an exit from the League Cup at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur and the end of City’s 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League with a defeat to Bournemouth. City’s lineup was affected by several key injuries, with Rodri, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, and John Stones all sidelined. As a result, 19-year-old defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was handed his first start for the club in Tuesday's match.

Despite the setback, manager Pep Guardiola expressed optimism about the challenge of steering his team back on course.

“It is a tough challenge, but I am here. It will be a tough season - we knew that from the start. But this is what it is. I like it, I love it, I want to face it and lift my players and try it,” Pep declared. Life is like this. Maybe in the past six Premier Leagues in seven years and four in a row is an exception. Sometimes you lose."

“Today we were really good - Bournemouth, no, they deserve it. We played really bad against Bournemouth and played really good today. I know how we behave today, how good we were, and how a young central defender [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey], what an exceptional game he played."

“When you lose 4-1 what can I say? My team I like it, we were close to making it 0-3."

Not giving up

Guardiola said that he will have to try and find an explanation to things and said they would continue to fight in all the competitions. The Spanish manager said his team will turn their attention towards the Brighton game.

“I have to try and find an explanation. Sometimes it is just football."

“We have to accept it. Life is that, sport is that. Everyone has to be better and better and better and we will find it. We are alive in all competitions, and we will continue."

“We are coming back to Manchester to prepare the game against Brighton. I am not giving up. Maybe people are waiting but I am not giving up.”

City will face Brighton next on November 9 in the Premier League.