Pep Guardiola says Manchester Metropolis have a sense that “everything is going wrong” as he referred to as on his “fragile” gamers to “change the dynamic quick” after their shock Champions League defeat at Bodo/Glimt.
Man Metropolis, lacking a bunch of gamers, had Rodri despatched off as they have been shocked by the Norwegians within the Champions League on Tuesday – a consequence that piled on the distress after a downturn in home outcomes.
Metropolis’s Premier League title hopes have taken successful after a run of 4 video games with out a win, a sequence that features Saturday’s demoralising derby loss at Manchester United.
Now their prospects of securing an computerized place within the final 16 within the European competitors hinge on a crunch ultimate league part sport in opposition to Galatasaray subsequent week, and Guardiola informed reporters at a press convention that one thing wants to vary for his aspect.
“All the pieces has began to be, because the new 12 months, in opposition to [us] in lots of, many issues.
“I understand how good a workforce Bodo are. I did not underestimate them. There’s not a lot I do know however they (reached the) semi-final final season of the Europa League and so they have been contemporary in thoughts.
Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh celebrates scoring his first objective in opposition to Man Metropolis within the Champions League group sport
“We arrived in some departments with out essential gamers who give consistency to the workforce. They’re a bit bit fragile, [as] they have been final season in a sure interval, however how they fought 10 in opposition to 11, quite a lot of gamers made a step up.
“We have to come back – the results since 2025 is not good, in terms of the Premier League and now today. But we have to look forward. We have four days for Wolves and after Galatasaray, to try to see what happens.
“We’ve to vary the dynamic fast.”
‘Everything is going wrong’
City’s only victories in 2026 have come in domestic cup ties against Exeter, of League One, and Newcastle.
Yet they were without 11 senior players in Norway through either injury, illness, suspension or ineligibility, but Guardiola scoffed at a suggestion his team was flat.
He said: “It was an unbelievable alternative for us and the sensation is that all the pieces [that can be] going unsuitable, goes [wrong] in lots of, many particulars. That could be a truth and it’s important to attempt to change it.
“But the players are there, and we’ll try.
“I don’t agree,” he added when asked about his side being flat. “We did not have Jeremy [Doku] or Savinho or correct wingers and different departments we had many essential gamers that are not right here and provides us extra consistency that we’ve got, however I did not have the sensation that right this moment the workforce was not there.
“They are well organised, they force you to go outside and we don’t have players to go one against one and make moments behind. In general, Bodo were really good and we congratulate them. We cannot say anything else.”
Manchester Metropolis goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after letting in a objective in opposition to Bodo/Glimt
The scoreline truly flattered Metropolis, who have been rocked by two quickfire first-half targets from Kasper Hogh and a surprising strike after the break by Jens Petter Hauge.
Rayan Cherki pulled one again however Rodri’s dismissal for 2 bookings in fast succession simply after the hour ended hopes of a fightback. Metropolis have been lucky to not concede once more as Hogh had an effort disallowed and Hauge hit the woodwork.
Guardiola refused to criticise Rodri as he continued to wrestle in what has been a troublesome comeback season so far after struggling a critical knee damage final time period.
He stated: “It was a difficult situation. We lost the ball. We made a transition but they are fast and sometimes you react.
“It is little bit smooth, the second, however it’s what it’s.”
‘Defeat damaging for Metropolis’s confidence’
Tim Sherwood on Soccer Particular:
“City are still in a good position in the Champions League league phase, but they have had a couple of opportunities now to put this to bed and be able to rest some players, not that they have too many to rest at the moment as they are struggling with a few injuries.
“But it surely has been an exquisite efficiency by Bodo/Glimt and it’ll go down in historical past as maybe their best-ever efficiency.
“It was impossible to believe [Rodri’s red], he is an experienced player, someone we feel City cannot do without, he was average in the game, like many City players tonight, he has just come back from a cruciate, he is playing on astroturf, which is a strange decision to put him out there.
“And it seemed like he was not pleased and tried to get himself despatched off – as soon as he’s on a yellow card, he is aware of full properly that when he pulls the man again, he’s going to get one other yellow. It was so quickly after the primary one, it was a horrendous resolution from an skilled participant and it provides the workforce completely zero likelihood after that to return again on this sport wherein they have been struggling anyway.
“He will be suspended now for their next game and it has all gone wrong for City tonight, it really has, but they are still in a decent position to qualify automatically and I think they will still do it, but this is damaging for confidence.”
Fixtures piling up for Metropolis…
Because it stands, Man Metropolis are nonetheless fourth within the Champions League.
However their place within the high eight is now very susceptible following tonight’s shock defeat.
Had been they to drop out of the highest eight, and Metropolis’s ultimate group sport is in opposition to Galatasaray subsequent Wednesday, it could imply a double-header Champions League play-off and an ultra-congested February.
This is how their fixture checklist in February might look in the event that they end out of the highest eight:
- February 1 – Tottenham (a), Premier League
- February 4 – Newcastle (h) – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg
- February 7 – Liverpool (a), Premier League
- February 11 – Fulham (h), Premier League
- February 14 – Salford – FA Cup fourth spherical
- *February 17 or 18 – Play-off first leg, Champions League
- February 21 – Newcastle (h), Premier League
- *February 24 or 25 – Play-off second leg, Champions League
- February 28 – Leeds (a), Premier League
Your views: ‘Pep has run his race at Metropolis’
Can Guardiola flip tings round at Man Metropolis? He are a variety your views…
Marko: I believe Pep has run his race, identical to a number of of the Metropolis gamers. He can not seem to alter tactically these previous few years.
James Jones: I do not assume he can flip it round. It is sport over. I believe the gamers know he is leaving quickly and have given up. Unhappy occasions forward.
Glen: Metropolis’s golden interval is lastly coming to an finish. Too many modifications over the past 12 months, half the gamers being reverted in positions they’ve by no means performed earlier than. Is Pep the GOAT? In all probability. Unsackable? By no means.
Charlesgalo05: Pep has run out of concepts. He retains favouring gamers who’re off form and it is costing us massive time.
Mike: We’ve high class gamers even with out the accidents. Our drawback is the ways – gradual build-ups give each opponent the possibility to organise the stable defence, after which once we lose the ball they chip over us and have a transparent run for objective. Pep ought to go – we have had the most effective of him.
Gaz15: He is seemed drained this previous 6 to 12 months. I believe he will likely be passed by the tip of the season, newest.
Daniel Wilde: I believe Pep will flip it round at Metropolis and go on to win the Carabao and FA Cups, and hopefully Champions League.
