A Setback That Doesn’t Change the Course

Manchester City’s unbeaten run came to an end after a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, who executed a perfect plan under Unai Emery to stop the reigning champions. It was a tough, physical match where Villa took advantage of City’s defensive lapses, ending a streak of nine games without defeat across all competitions.

Despite the result, Pep Guardiola refused to panic. “We played very well in the Premier League overall and we’re getting better. We’ll learn from this. It’s a long road, and we’ll try to be there at the end,” he told Sky Sports.

“We Lacked Aggression and Precision”

The City boss admitted his team struggled to find rhythm early on. “In the first half, our pressing wasn’t good enough. In the second half, it was better, but we weren’t aggressive enough,” he explained. “We had chances to score, but we didn’t take them.”

Villa’s goal came through a swift counterattack that caught City off guard — a rare sight for a team known for its control and dominance. Still, Guardiola preferred to focus on the positives: “The players are committed. We just need to improve small details. The performance wasn’t bad at all.”

Still Within Reach of Arsenal

The defeat leaves Manchester City six points behind Arsenal, who continue to lead the Premier League standings. But Guardiola made it clear that the title race is far from over. “What matters is how we finish, not how we start. The Premier League is tougher than ever this season — every mistake counts.”

With several key players returning from injury, the Spaniard believes his squad has the depth and mentality to close the gap in the coming weeks.

Next Stop: Bournemouth

City’s next challenge comes quickly, as they face Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, currently sitting second in the league and enjoying an impressive campaign. Guardiola knows it won’t be easy: “We have to keep our mentality strong. Titles aren’t won in October, but they’re built in games like this.”

Even after a rare defeat, Guardiola’s message was clear — calm, confident, and determined. For the Catalan tactician, every stumble is just another step toward perfection.