Pep Guardiola admits ‘I fell short’ following recent Manchester City defeat

MANCHESTER, England — Following a disappointing 2-1 loss to Manchester United, Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration and admitted to feeling “not good enough” as Manchester City’s struggles deepened over the weekend.

The team has managed to secure victory in only one of their last eleven matches across all competitions, marking a troubling trend as they have suffered eight defeats during that stretch. Currently, City is positioned fifth in the Premier League standings and trails league leaders Liverpool by nine points, having played one additional match compared to their rivals.

As he faced reporters post-match, Guardiola acknowledged his responsibilities, stating, “I’m the boss, I’m the manager and I’m not good enough. It’s as simple as that. I’m not doing well. That is the truth.”

Guardiola’s tenure has been marked by extraordinary accolades; he has guided City to four consecutive Premier League titles and six championships in seven seasons, totaling 15 major trophies with the club, including a Champions League title. However, the current season has become the most challenging phase of his coaching career, during which he has amassed 33 major trophies with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City combined.

Despite recently signing a two-year contract extension, which was expected to reinvigorate the team, results on the pitch have continued to disappoint. In a shaky match against their city rivals, City held a 1-0 lead until the closing minutes, only to see United score two goals in quick succession—one from Bruno Fernandes and another from Amad Diallo—leading to discontent among the City fans, who voiced their displeasure with boos at the final whistle.

“I knew that it would be a tough season from the beginning. I said that many times, even during our winning streak, but I didn’t foresee it being this challenging,” Guardiola remarked, reflecting on the current state of the team.