Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has openly acknowledged that his team is currently facing significant difficulties in scoring goals. This admission came after a disappointing 4-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, a result that marked their third consecutive defeat in all competitions.

The match saw Viktor Gyokeres score a remarkable hat-trick for the Portuguese side, while City’s star forward, Erling Haaland, missed a crucial penalty when the score stood at 3-1. Despite a solid start in the first half, with City taking the lead, Guardiola was left frustrated by his team’s inability to capitalize on their chances and maintain composure throughout the game.

Guardiola reflected on the performance, stating, “We had a fantastic first half, but right now we are struggling to score. We create opportunities, but we also concede goals when the opposition isn’t doing much. The first half was really good, and we did manage to score a goal, but at times we were missing even the simplest passes.”

He went on to explain that such lapses can occur in football, but emphasized the need for improvement after conceding the third and fourth goals. “After going 3-1 down, we have to avoid situations like that. Emotionally, we were not stable enough, and in a competition like this, stability is crucial,” he added. “At 2-1, there are still many things that can happen, and we need to be emotionally stronger and more stable in those key moments.”

Guardiola’s comments highlight the ongoing struggles Manchester City are facing, particularly in terms of consistency and emotional resilience, areas the manager will likely be focusing on as they attempt to bounce back from this difficult run of form.