AFTER the disappointing defeat, Guardiola admitted “the better team won” and he “has to find a solution” to reverse City’s woes.
“We struggled, especially in the first half and the second was completely different,” the City manager told Amazon Prime. “In the final third, the quality of the pass and the movement, we didn’t find it all game.
“We know what’s our level and as a manager we have to find a way to win games. We’re struggling a bit. I’m here to help them.”
City’s four defeats this season have come when influential midfielder Rodri has been out of the starting XI. The Spaniard missed the match with Villa through a one-match suspension.
With Rodri in the team, City are unbeaten in their past 43 matches and Guardiola added he has “to find a way to win without him”.
And former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes the champions are “in a mini crisis”, telling BBC Match of the Day “they look vulnerable”.
Leon Bailey’s 74th-minute deflected shot gave Villa a deserved victory – one which meant City dropped to fourth in the table, behind Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal.
With so many challengers emerging, is City’s crown starting to slip after three successive titles?
