Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that “everything is more difficult” for his team this season as they strive to uphold their usual high standards amid a competitive Premier League and Champions League campaign.
The reigning Premier League champions recently endured their first league loss of the season against Bournemouth, following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.
Now, City looks to recover and continue their unbeaten streak in the Champions League as they prepare to face Sporting CP on Tuesday.
Sporting’s manager, Ruben Amorim, is also on the verge of transitioning to Manchester United, adding intrigue to the fixture.
Reflecting on City’s early season, Guardiola admitted:
“I know our standards, but we’ve only lost one league game. Maybe we’ll lose again in our next Premier League matches against Brighton, Tottenham, and Liverpool.”
“We’re just two points behind Liverpool, an exceptional team. We started well in the Champions League, but I understand people expect us to win all 38 league games and achieve a Treble every season.”
City’s challenges have been amplified by a string of injuries to key players. The squad has been coping with the absence of several first-team regulars, including midfielder Rodri, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in September.
Guardiola shared that they’re “in trouble” due to the injury list, which recently expanded to include John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Kevin De Bruyne.
Read Also: Pep Guardiola Confirms Double Injury Blow For Man City After Bournemouth Defeat
He noted, “To win the Treble, everything has to align perfectly with injuries, but this season, it hasn’t been possible.”
Guardiola emphasized the resilience needed to compete at the highest level, saying,
“The teams are very strong, and everything is more difficult—we have to accept that as part of the challenge.”
Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim, soon to take charge at Manchester United, hinted at the pressure of facing Guardiola’s side.
Reflecting on the Champions League clash, he remarked,
“Manchester United fans might think ‘the new Alex Ferguson has arrived’ if we beat City.”
Sporting and City currently share seven points in their Champions League group, with City having beaten Sporting 5-0 on aggregate in 2022.
However, Amorim acknowledged Guardiola’s growth, saying,
“I feel like I’ve become a better coach, but Guardiola has also improved, so the gap remains. [City has] the best team in the world and the best coach in the world.”
As City battles injuries and high expectations, Guardiola’s team faces a challenging journey to maintain their winning form in a fiercely competitive season.
