October 27 – He is hailed as the brightest and most sought-after manager of his generation but has now suffered his worst ever winless streak of six games in all competitions.
But Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola is putting on a brave face as he attempts to pull the club back on an even keel in his first season in English football.
When he was at Barcelona, and then Bayern Munich, Guardiola could count on a glittering squad of players in virtually every position but is discovering fast that the Premier League is more than just a one or two-horse race.
City started the season by winning their first 10 games in all competitions and although they still top the league on goal difference, the momentum has stalled with the latest setback being Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to rivals Manchester United in the League Cup.
“We will improve. Sometimes it happens in football that the managers don’t win,” said Guardiola, admitting that he had never been through such a tough run as a coach. “It is the first time … and hopefully it does not happen again. But it is part of our profession, sometimes you win and sometimes lose. I have learned in all the 16 games.
“Every team has streaks of good results and bad results. The strange thing is after seven years as a manager, it happens now.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734919409labto1734919409ofdlr1734919409owedi1734919409sni@w1734919409ahsra1734919409w.wer1734919409dna1734919409