By JEORGE BIRD
Published: 11:29 EST, 21 December 2024 | Updated: 11:30 EST, 21 December 2024
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed what he feels the key issues are with his team following their latest defeat.
City were beaten 2-1 away by Aston Villa, with Guardiola's side continuing to struggle.
There has been much speculation about what has gone wrong with City, who have from title winners to a team sorely lacking in cohesion.
Guardiola will believe that he will be able to turn City's fortunes around, but there is much work for him to do if he is to achieve that objective.
Following their latest setback, City are in sixth place in the Premier League and are nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
City have already suffered six Premier League defeats this season, with Guardiola's team looking like a shadow of their former selves.
Asked about the specific problems his team are facing, Guardiola told TNT Sports: 'We struggle to score and we concede goals.'
Guardiola said: 'We make a really good first half, we still have problems with the mistake. Second half we dropped, we changed a little bit our pressing for the reason John (Stones) could not continue and we were not as good as the first half. Congratulate Aston Villa and keep going.'
Guardiola confirmed that John Stones had suffered a recurrence of his previous injury.
Commenting on where his team struggled, Guardiola said: 'Our build up was comfortable but in the middle they are so strong. They follow really good the pockets, the physicality with Onana and Kamara. We could link inside. We had good moments, not big chances. We had more chances than the United game for example, but the second half we dropped.
'Our pressing was not effective in our right side and we struggled a little bit. After we could not drop them well. We found a goal at the end but it was too late.'