Aston Villa v Man City LIVE: Premier League result and final score as City’s miserable run continues | OneFootball

✕

Close

Guardiola 'optimistic' Grealish can rediscover goalscoring form in Villa return

Manchester City’s miserable run of form continued as Aston Villa leapfrogged Pep Guardiola’s side into fifth with a deserved victory over the faltering Premier League champions.

Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers, who struck against his former club, condemned City to a third defeat in a row and ninth loss in their last 12 games in all competitions.

City were out-run by Unai Emery’s side, who rediscovered their form with a stirring performance in front of their home fans. It was a day to forget for Jack Grealish, City’s brightest player on his return to Villa Park, who was booed throughout another lackluster performance from Guardiola’s team.

Villa started brightly and Duran had the chance to open the scoring after just 15 seconds. The striker converted his second opportunity to finish a flowing move on 15 minutes, instigated by a brilliant Youri Tielemans pass. Dominant after half-time, Rogers wrapped up victory on the hour.

City had no response, with Erling Haaland anonymous and Kevin De Bruyne remaining on the bench throughout as an unused substitute. Phil Foden pulled one back with seconds left, but it was too little too late as City drop to sixth in the table, with Villa climbing into fifth. Follow all the reaction in our live blog below.

Aston Villa v Man City LIVE

Pinned

Resigned Pep Guardiola signals the complete breakdown of all-conquering Man City

An obsessive Spanish manager had taken his adopted club to rare heights. Then came a chastening spell of 11 games, littered with setbacks, sending his team tumbling down the table, bringing their ambitions into question. But this victory was emphatic and impressive, offering relief and respite. A slump may be over.

But not for Pep Guardiola. Because, for Unai Emery and Aston Villa, Manchester City came to town. They were duly and deservedly beaten.

Guardiola spent the first half gesturing histrionically, the second with his hands in his pockets, a man resigned to his fate.

This feels the complete breakdown of an all-conquering team.

Resigned Pep Guardiola signals the complete breakdown of all-conquering Man City

Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City: Guardiola spent the second half with his hands in his pockets, appearing to accept defeat, as the champions plummeted to another low

Richard Jolly21 December 2024 16:24

Unai Emery admits Villa knew Man City are lacking confidence

Unai Emery said he sensed a drop in confidence from Manchester City which allowed Aston Villa to claim a third win in four.

He said: “Progressively, the mentality and confidence was increasing and theirs was going down, and it was fantastic how the players responded on the field.

“The first half we didn’t work completely because we were defending so low. In the second half we were getting more in the attacking third and the consequences we scored and the confidence increased more. Defensively we did a fantastic working 90 minutes.

“Manchester City are a little bit under the confidence they had normally.

“The second half was different, we dominated and we scored. Through those circumstances they were feeling worse than even in the first half.”

(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 21:31

‘Proud’ Pep Guardiola refuses to blame Man City players

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola felt a huge sense of “pride” after his side suffered their latest defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.

Guardiola refused to point the finger at his players following the 2-1 loss - their sixth defeat in their last eight games.

He said: “Thanks to some players today, the pride they showed on the pitch again.

“It happens since three months ago, nothing has changed. I have to deal with that. This is not an easy place to come, last season in the Premier League we didn’t win here.

“I take the positive things from here, reflect and the same with the players. What I see them doing before and after, how they behave and I feel pride, thinking let’s go, onto the next one.”

Pep failed to point the finger at his players for their poor form (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 20:31

Unai Emery on Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins

Unai Emery on how he is getting the best out of Jhon Duran and balancing his game-time with England international Ollie Watkins.

"We are in the process with the players, keeping their consistency of playing. Jhon Duran today played fantastic, Watkins is fantastic as well, very important for us.

“Of course you have to work with both strikers, sometimes they play together. I am very happy with them.”

(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 19:31

Pep Guardiola on John Stones

"I would say I'm not in the right moment to make tactical and creative changes with some players and where they are at. There is a moment where I cannot overthink things right now. I try to be simple, go to the principles to give certainty to the team and the players of what they can do offensively and defensively. This is one of the points. He can't because he said in the last 10 minutes again he had the disturbance that he had in the last month."

The defender’s return from injury lasted just 45 minutes (Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 17:13

Erling Haaland admits his form has not been good enough and backs Guardiola

Erling Haaland, who now has just one goal in his last six games for Manchester City,  speaking to TNT Sports:

“We have to continue working. The first thing I am looking at is myself, I have not been doing things good enough, have not been scoring my chances and everything. I have to be better. It’s a lot on me and I’ve not been good enough

“Of course it’s not the best. We know how important confidence is. You can see it. It affects every human being, these kind of things. That’s how it is. We have to continue. We have to stay positive even though it is difficult. We have to keep working hard.”

On Pep Guardiola

“He’s won the Premier League six times in seven years. We can never forget that. He will find the solutions. He’s been doing that every year, apart from one. We still believe in him and we have to work harder than ever right now “

(REUTERS)