Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City are currently enduring a difficult period, insisting that a combination of unfortunate circumstances has been working against his team following their Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt. The City manager suggested that recent events have not gone in his side’s favour, describing the situation as one where “many, many things” have contributed to their struggles.
City found themselves in trouble early in the match after Kasper Waarts Høgh struck twice in the first half, giving the Norwegian side a commanding two-goal lead by the interval. Any hopes of a comeback were further damaged when Jens Petter Hauge produced a superb curling effort from long range to make it 3-0. Although Rayan Cherki later pulled a goal back for City, it came after Rodri had already been dismissed, leaving Guardiola’s team facing an uphill task with a man less.
The loss marked a second consecutive defeat for Manchester City, coming just days after their disappointing Manchester derby loss at the weekend. Despite the negative results, Guardiola maintained that there were signs of progress in his team’s performance compared to their previous outing, particularly in terms of attitude and overall intensity.
Reflecting on Rodri’s sending-off, Guardiola explained that the midfielder was caught in a difficult moment during a transition after City lost possession. He pointed out that Bodo/Glimt were quick to exploit space and that such situations often force players into split-second reactions.
While he accepted the first booking, Guardiola felt the second yellow card was somewhat harsh, suggesting it lacked consistency. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that decisions cannot be changed and must be accepted.
Guardiola went on to explain that the momentum of the game quickly turned against City. At 3-1, just moments after conceding the third goal, he felt the balance of the match was firmly tilted, with various factors compounding their problems.
He referenced issues that have persisted since the turn of the year, highlighting missed opportunities and the general sense that luck has not been on their side.
Injuries and illness have also played a significant role in disrupting City’s rhythm. Guardiola revealed that several players have been unavailable, including Matheus Nunes, who has been suffering from flu and has struggled physically as a result.
According to the City boss, these ongoing setbacks have made it extremely difficult to maintain the high level of consistency his team previously showed during a spell where they were winning matches regularly and performing at an elite standard.
He stressed that competing at the very top level, whether in the Champions League or high-profile domestic fixtures, demands near-perfect conditions.
When key players are missing and form is affected, sustaining dominance becomes far more challenging. Guardiola admitted that the absence of important squad members has caused a noticeable drop, but he remained encouraged by the improved “tone” of the team, which he felt was significantly better than in their derby defeat to Manchester United.
Ultimately, while the result was disappointing, Guardiola believes the performance showed signs that City are moving in the right direction, even if circumstances continue to make the journey more difficult than usual.
