Pep Guardiola explains Manchester City struggles with transfer window admission | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has demanded patience with his newlook squad after two defeats in his side’s opening three 2025-26 Premier League games.

City have suffered successive losses at the hands of Tottenham and Brighton in recent weeks, with the optimism over the Blues’ prospects following their opening day 4-0 triumph away at Wolves dimming since their uninspiring showing(s) in the subsequent 180 minutes of football.

Erling Haaland gave the visitors a narrow, hard-fought 1-0 advantage heading into the interval at the Amex Stadium on Sunday – but a resolute Brighton side inspired a stunning comeback to overturn that deficit and claim all three points against Guardiola’s men.

Manchester City have witnessed significant upheaval in their squad over the summer and the revamp led by newly-appointed director of football Hugo Viana took further turns on deadline day – with Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan leaving; with City completing the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma to replace the former.

After enduring their most challenging season under Guardiola last term – when City finished in third place in the Premier League with 71 points, their lowest points tally in the league under the Spaniard – the margin for error is as thin as it’s ever been if the Blues are looking to compete for the Premier League title this time.

Arsenal and Liverpool have plugged several loopholes in their respective squads in recent months – and Manchester City cannot afford to keep up their recent form if they plan on challenging for a fifth Premier League crown in six seasons.

Reflecting candidly on his side’s early struggles this season after their latest loss, Guardiola said: “We were excellent for one hour, many things I like for many months – so I’m not complaining about.

“But we are not able to win games. And after the goal, we shift, we forgot to play, we were more thinking about the consequences, and that’s why we could not win the game.”

Guardiola has attributed his side’s struggles partly to the influx of new players into his squad and the inevitable time new signings will require to adapt and adjust to the demands of Manchester City’s carefully woven style of play.

“I like many, many things that we are doing, and it’s a question of time to make a click. Now the transfer window will be finished, and when we come back we will see the real squad,” the 54-year-old added.

“I liked many, many things (against Brighton); it’s just when we conceded the goal we forgot or we stopped to try to play.

“And they (Brighton) had momentum, it’s normal, but in that momentum we stopped. Of course we have this disadvantage of six points behind, but it’s a long, long season ahead of us.”