Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledge the recent struggles of his team, following their 2-1 loss over the weekend at Bournemouth. He maintained, however, that they will contest for trophies by the end of the season. Several injuries have hit the City squad, compounding their woes as they suffered their first Premier League loss of the season over the weekend, ending their unbeaten streak from last season. Notwithstanding, they remain in the title race, with only two points separating them from league leaders Liverpool.
The Spanish coach conceded the fact that his team’s injury challenge will affect their performance this term, but will not stop them from challenging for titles. He cited the example of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri who he described as “the best player in the world,” ruing his season-long absence as a major setback for the team. Other notable absences, according to the former Barcelona coach, are Oscar Bobb and Jack Grealish.
In addition to the injuries, Guardiola noted that there’s a marked improvement in the competitive quality of Premier League sides this season, making the campaign more difficult. He pointed out the challenge of playing teams like Fulham and Brentford, added to the existing powerhouses like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United. The manager finds it impressive that his side remains in ahead in the contention for trophies despite these challenges.
The Cityzens are set to face Sporting on Tuesday night in a Champions League contest.
