Pep Guardiola took a balanced approach after Manchester City’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, acknowledging areas for improvement while praising his team’s overall play.
Despite City’s first defeat since August, Guardiola was quick to highlight the positives. “We started really well, and in general, we were much better in the second half,” he told Sky Sports. However, he pointed out that the team’s pressing in the first half was lacking, and while they improved after the break, they still couldn’t convert their chances. “We were not aggressive enough… we had the opportunities but couldn’t score,” he admitted.
City’s defeat at Villa Park ended a nine-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, and Guardiola remains optimistic. “We played really good in the Premier League mainly, and we’re getting better,” he said. “It is a long journey, and we will learn from this. We will try to be close at the end.”
The loss leaves City six points adrift of leaders Arsenal. Guardiola’s side will look to bounce back next Sunday when they face second-placed Bournemouth in their next league outing.
About the Author
