City manager challenges Van Hecke’s physicality with Haaland as injuries continue to test the champions.
Pep Guardiola confronted Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke on the pitch following Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat on Saturday, a loss that extended City’s unprecedented four-game losing streak. City now sit two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who face Aston Villa later this weekend.
The match initially saw City in control as Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the first half. However, Brighton rallied after the break, with substitute Joao Pedro equalizing with just 12 minutes remaining. Matt O’Riley, making his Premier League debut, then secured a dramatic win for Brighton in the closing stages.
In a tense moment late in the match, Van Hecke and Haaland clashed inside Brighton’s penalty area, with both players booked after Haaland pulled Van Hecke to the ground. Guardiola, visibly animated, approached Van Hecke after the final whistle, discussing the encounter between the Brighton center-back and his star striker.
“He was strong with Erling, and when Erling stands up, you have to stand up,” Guardiola commented. “You can’t go down to the grass. But he played a good game, and congratulations to Brighton.”
Beyond the confrontation, Guardiola pointed to City’s mounting injury woes as a core reason for their recent slump. “The point is we don’t have players,” he explained. “I have four central defenders, and none are available. Rodri, our best player, is not there. Kevin De Bruyne is still working toward full fitness. Doku, Grealish – they’re all out.”
Guardiola acknowledged City’s difficulties in maintaining the consistency they’ve shown in previous seasons. “It’s not that I’m complaining,” he clarified. “We played well today, but without the full squad, keeping that level game after game is tough. This is the main difference from past seasons, and we just have to find a way to adapt.”
As City heads into the rest of the season, Guardiola faces the challenge of guiding his injury-stricken squad through a turbulent period while maintaining their title ambitions.
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