Guardiola takes responsibility as City's crisis deepens with Manchester derby defeat

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (53) took full responsibility for his team's ongoing struggles, which culminated in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

The match saw City leading until the 88th minute, when they conceded a penalty that Bruno Fernandes successfully converted, followed by a decisive goal from Amad Diallo just two minutes later.

"I have no excuses. As the manager, I must acknowledge that I am not performing adequately," Guardiola stated. "I need to identify a solution, yet I have failed to do so. The reality is that I am not succeeding."

City's recent form has been alarming, with only one win in their last 11 matches across all competitions, leading to a significant crisis for the reigning champions, leaving players and analysts alike astonished.

"In the final moments, we played like a youth team," remarked City midfielder Ruben Dias.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville commented on Sky Sports, "This is unprecedented for Manchester City and for Pep Guardiola. The fans have not witnessed such performances in many years. These players are accustomed to winning."

Guardiola, who recently extended his contract with the club for two more years, appeared dejected as he exited the pitch, while United supporters chanted, "He's getting sacked in the morning."

While Guardiola had previously attributed the team's injury woes to a congested fixture schedule, he refrained from making excuses during a candid post-match press conference.

"We were leading 3-0 against Feyenoord with 15 minutes remaining, and we ended up drawing that Champions League match. Is that due to the schedule or injuries? No, we should have secured that victory," the Catalan manager explained. "Today, we needed to win, and aside from Bruno Fernandes' late opportunity that went wide, we allowed the game to slip away once more."

If the same issue persists, it is possible to address it. You might think, "Ah, it's that player." The solution could be as simple as not playing him. However, the situation is more complex than that.

The team failed to register a shot on target during the second half, and their loss represents the latest instance in which the reigning champions have led a Premier League match only to ultimately lose.

"I am compensated very well to manage these circumstances, to conduct the press conference, and to accept all the criticism. However, I wish to be candid; over the course of one or two seasons, specifically a year and a half, we managed to lose only eight matches," Guardiola stated.

"We were at the top of the league and the only unbeaten team in Europe, yet within a span of one month and ten days, we suffered eight defeats. This is a prestigious club, and naturally, such performance is unacceptable."

"I find myself at this press conference due to my previous accomplishments; otherwise, in major clubs, a manager would not be afforded such patience."

"I anticipated that this season would be challenging, but I did not foresee it being as difficult as it currently is. I am eager to succeed, but eight losses out of eleven? I am here to make an effort and will continue to do so repeatedly. That is the reality."