Pep Guardiola refused to criticise his injury-hit squad after Manchester City’s 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end at Bournemouth this afternoon.
Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson put the Cherries in control and, even though Josko Gvardiol pulled one back for City, a late onslaught failed to result in an equaliser with Erling Haaland hitting the post deep into injury-time.
Guardiola said he only had 13 fit outfield players following the midweek EFL Cup defeat at Tottenham and his side today featured several men he claimed were well short of full fitness.
FULL-TIME | Defeat in Bournemouth.
🍒 2-1 🩵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/zXrDFYivii
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 2, 2024
He told Sky Sports: ”Kyle [Walker], 16 days didn’t train with us until yesterday. Nathan [Ake] made an incredible effort.
“The guys give everything because after nine years together they always will.”
Guardiola also gave credit to a Bournemouth side that have now recorded back-to-back home wins over Arsenal and City, either side of a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.
“They had chances, we created as well at the end too, but we could not win any balls from the wingers,” he added.
“They were difficult to play in the first half. We knew how they would play. It was well deserved.”
Pep ready to meet Amorim on Tuesday
City’s last defeat in the league came at Villa in December 2023 but Guardiola was not too dismayed and had already trained his focus on to Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Ruben Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon.
“We would like to keep defending it but how many games and months we did it… it’s great,” he said.
“We have another game in two days in Portugal and we have to go again.”
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was delighted his side managed to maintain their fine form.
“It is difficult but we have shown on our day we can create chances,” he said. “We know there are better teams than us but it is not easy to play here and we have to keep this level so everyone knows that when the come here it will not be an easy game.”
