Pep Guardiola makes urgent transfer window plea to Hugo Viana after Tottenham loss | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that the club will assess the transfer market in the final week of the window after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Tottenham.

A lacklustre display, reminiscent of the City side from the 2024-25 campaign, saw Guardiola’s men suffer their first defeat of the Premier League season as goals from Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha secured all three points for Thomas Frank and co in Manchester.

City made a bright start to their first home fixture of the 2025-26 campaign as presentable chances fell to Omar Marmoush and man-of-the-moment Tijjani Reijnders but the Blues lacked their usual cutting edge in the final third.

At the other end, Spurs executed their clinical gameplan to absolute perfection as the UEFA Europa League champions defended resolutely and capitalised on a meagre Manchester City showing in defence with two first-half goals, which could and likely should have been thwarted by the hosts.

City’s defensive issues from the recent campaign are well documented and despite their business in the summer transfer window, centre-back is an area the club have not strengthened, a decision that could come back and haunt the board deeper into the season.

January signing Vitor Reis has been sent on loan to Girona, with John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake all returning from injury in recent months to give Guardiola a wide range of options in central defence.

However, it was all too easy for Tottenham against City at the Etihad Stadium and after a major revamp of Guardiola’s midfield and goalkeeping departments, sporting director Hugo Viana – who was in attendance on Saturday – will take some food for thought from the defeat.

City have a week to complete any last-minute acquisitions and with left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri hauled off just after 20 minutes against Tottenham, the board will be left with a familiar feeling regarding their vulnerable backline ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline.

Asked if City could make any further signings before the window shuts following Saturday’s result, Guardiola told TNT Sports: “We will see. We have a long week, with the club we’ll talk, with the players and agents, and we’ll see.”

The extent of Ait-Nouri’s ankle issue remains unknown, with Guardiola yet to discover a timeframe on when he can expect the 24-year-old left back to return to training and subsequently to the pitch. “I don’t know. I didn’t speak with the doctors yet,” the City manager added on his £31 million signing from Wolves.

Guardiola admitted that City could pounce on any openings in the transfer market but did instil a sense of faith in his current group, who have witnessed plenty of incomings and outgoings this summer and will take time to gel together.

“I know what we’re working (on), what the players are doing, the many good things I have, of course we have to improve, but I said the same after Wolves. And step by step, until we make the click and make the good connections for many things that are still new. Now rest seven days and prepare for the last game before the international break,” Guardiola said.