Manchester City’s remarkable 26-game unbeaten run in the UEFA Champions League came to an end as Sporting CP handed the reigning 2022-23 champions a 4-1 defeat in Lisbon, Portugal. The loss marks only the second time City has conceded four goals in a European match, a feat last matched by Barcelona at this stage of the tournament eight years ago.
This defeat adds to a challenging spell for City, marking their third consecutive loss in all competitions, following recent setbacks against Bournemouth and Tottenham. Not since April 2018 has the team suffered such a run. However, Pep Guardiola is determined to turn things around and inspire a response from his players.
“I love this challenge, I want to face it and lift the players. I am not giving up, be ready, maybe people are waiting for that, but I am not giving up!” Guardiola stated firmly. “I want to be here and I want to fight,” he added.
The Cityzens now face a crucial period as they aim to regroup for upcoming Premier League and Champions League clashes. Guardiola’s leadership and the team’s resilience will be pivotal as they seek to bounce back from this setback and push forward in their season.
