Guardiola acknowledges Manchester City players' recent struggles

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, usually avoids publicly criticizing his players. He has been supportive of his squad despite some players, like Rico Lewis and Phil Foden, struggling recently. Guardiola believes that Jack Grealish has not been starting because there are many other talented players available. Last week, Guardiola expressed confidence in his team's abilities and suggested that injuries have affected their performance this season. He remains hopeful that key players will recover for next season, allowing the team to perform better. He noted that their recent performances have not been up to standard, particularly in matches against Brighton and Nottingham Forest, where attacking and defensive mistakes were evident. Guardiola acknowledged that the team is not the same as in previous years, despite having many of the same players. He did not specify any individual issues but pointed out a decline in discipline and work ethic. The future success of Manchester City will depend on how well the players can rediscover their winning form and adapt to new expectations moving forward.