Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has issued a defiant message after his side’s stunning 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Manchester City’s unbeaten run of 26 games in the UCL was snatched after Sporting CP topped the 2022-23 winners 4-1 in Lisbon, Portugal.
The lost against the Portuguese outfit was just the second time the Cityzens have conceded that many goals in a European match, with Barcelona doing the same at this stage eight years ago.
Despite three successive defeats for the first time since April 2018, including losses to Bournemouth, Tottenham, and Sporting, Pep Guardiola has vowed to face the challenge head-on and rally his players back on track.
“I love this challenge, I want to face it and lift the players.
I am not giving up, be ready, maybe people are waiting for that, but I am not giving up!”
“I want to be here and I want to fight” he added.
Guardiola’s resolve will be tested in the coming weeks, with crucial Premier League and Champions League fixtures looming. City’s players will need to respond quickly to their manager’s call to arms.
As Guardiola prepares to rally his troops, one thing is clear: Manchester City’s season will be defined by their response to this setback.
Pep would be hoping his side take inspiration from his words and bounce back, to make a turnaround from their recent slump.
