Guardiola: ‘It is my job to find a solution’

Pep Guardiola says it is his job to find solution to his misfiring side after they lost 1-0 at Villa Park to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

It was Man City’s third loss in 15 Premier League games this season.

Guardiola, in the post-match news conference, says: “Aston Villa played better. The first half we didn’t move in possession and the second half was much, much better and we had chances, but we struggled to find the pass and movements in the right moments.

“After the deflection, we have scored four or five goals with deflections so it is what it is and we have to accept Aston Villa was better and go to Luton.

“Rodri is an important player of course but when he is not there we have to find a way to win without him. Six points [off the top] and we would prefer to be top of the league but we made three draws and lose today.

“In these years we have found a way to win games but we struggled a bit and we have to find a way. It is my job to find a solution. The dynamic changes by winning games, he said.

The Cityzens also set two unwanted records for the legendary coach.

The Premier League champions had just two shots on goal, the fewest ever recorded by a team managed by Guardiola. Villa, by comparison, had 22 shots, the joint-most faced by a Guardiola side in his career, per Opta.

City have been in poor form in recent weeks and have failed to win their last four games. The defeat to Villa has followed draws with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, and has left them six points behind leaders Arsenal. They are also now two points behind fourth-placed Villa, who leapfrogged them in the table.