Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City’s defense of their league title will be challenging, stating, “this is fine.” The reigning champions suffered a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth last Saturday, which followed their exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Tottenham. When questioned about whether these back-to-back losses are just a temporary setback or indicative of a more significant issue, Guardiola emphasized the need for acceptance of the difficulties ahead. He noted that while fans may expect the team to win every match convincingly, such expectations are unrealistic.

Tottenham secured a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night, knocking the defending champions out of the Carabao Cup. Timo Werner and Pape Sarr scored two quick goals within the first 25 minutes, giving Spurs a strong lead. Although Matheus Nunes managed to pull one back for City, it wasn't enough to change the outcome of the match. After the game, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reflected on the performance of his team, emphasizing that the focus should not solely be on the defeat. He noted, "The news is not that we lost. The news is how long a time we did not lose." Despite the disappointment of exiting the cup, Guardiola praised his players for their efforts throughout the match.