Publish: 10:04, 03 Nov, 2024

City defeat about more than mounting injuries: Guardiola

Online Desk
City defeat about more than mounting injuries: Guardiola
Photo - Collected

Injury crisis on Saturday proved costly for Manchester City as as the champions saw a 32-game unbeaten Premier League run come to a surprising end with a 2-1 loss at Bournemouth, reports Reuters.

But manager Pep Guardiola preferred not to use injuries as an excuse.

The defeat dropped City to second spot, two points behind Liverpool who recovered to beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1.1

“I don't know what would have happened. I would like to tell you if these players (weren't injured), we would have won, but nobody knows,” Guardiola said, adding, "The guys give everything, but not enough to compete against that team in that moment."

City's loss came on the heels of a midweek defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup fourth round.

On Friday Guardiola said he had urged his stars to play through pain "like Rafael Nadal" and feared he might have only 11 senior players fit to feature in the Bournemouth game.

City were already missing Jack Grealish, Rodri and Oscar Bobb and in his pre-game interview Guardiola said Ruben Dias and John Stones were also "ruled out for a little bit of long time."

Captain Kyle Walker was one of several players who had not been expected to feature on Saturday but started, while Kevin De Bruyne was back on the bench after a lengthy injury layoff.

"Kyle in 16 days didn't train one session with us, made an incredible effort," Guardiola said, adding that several other players had "niggles."

"(But) it's not just about that," the City boss added. "They (Bournemouth) were difficult to play in the first half, the second half we were much better."

Walker said if City had been fortunate enough to have more healthy bodies, several ailing players might have been rested.

"Probably ideally, but we're not in that position," he said. "We don't use that as an excuse, you have to give full credit to Bournemouth."

City have little time to recover as they head to Lisbon to play Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"It's the schedule that we've been dealt, no excuses," Walker furthered.

Bournemouth's victory was their first over City in the south-coast club's history and had Cherries fans at the Vitality Stadium cheekily chanting: "Can we play you every week?"

"I'm very pleased, one thing is to beat City but another is to play better," Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said, adding, "We played with no fear, tried to press when we could and defend when we had to.

"You know you have to be at your best level (to beat a top team) and wait for them to not have their best day."

Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna

More News
Kapil Dev delivers strong message to India batsmen following New Zealand defeat
Kapil Dev delivers strong message to India batsmen following New Zealand defeat
PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal
PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal
Mushfiqur Rahim uncertain in remaining ODIs
Mushfiqur Rahim uncertain in remaining ODIs
Ponting foresees India's "Collapse" in Australia
Ponting foresees India's "Collapse" in Australia
King, Carty centuries seal West Indies series win
King, Carty centuries seal West Indies series win
Bangladesh suffer 92-run defeat in first ODI against Afghans
Bangladesh suffer 92-run defeat in first ODI against Afghans
Upcoming BPL season to boost culture & business
Upcoming BPL season to boost culture & business
Afghanistan struggling under Mustafizur's bowling attack
Afghanistan struggling under Mustafizur's bowling attack
Afghanistan opt to bat
Afghanistan opt to bat
IPL auction to be held in S Arabia on Nov 24-25
IPL auction to be held in S Arabia on Nov 24-25
David Warner delivers bold 'Attitude' opinion on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
David Warner delivers bold 'Attitude' opinion on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Real Madrid ‘have to be worried’: Ancelotti
Real Madrid ‘have to be worried’: Ancelotti
Latest News
Student union election must be held every year to create leadership
Student union election must be held every year to create leadership

40 seconds ago | National

BNP activists gather in Nayapaltan for Revolution Solidarity Day rally
BNP activists gather in Nayapaltan for Revolution Solidarity Day rally

7 minutes ago | National

Venezuela signs defense, energy deals with Russia
Venezuela signs defense, energy deals with Russia

21 minutes ago | International

No justification for blocking Türkiye's EU accession bid: Erdoğan
No justification for blocking Türkiye's EU accession bid: Erdoğan

30 minutes ago | International

Bangladesh's PMI climbed to 55.7 in October
Bangladesh's PMI climbed to 55.7 in October

51 minutes ago | Economy

BNP to hold noon rally in capital, extensive preparations underway
BNP to hold noon rally in capital, extensive preparations underway

1 hour ago | National

Petrobangla to make a fresh short list of LNG suppliers of int'l spot market soon
Petrobangla to make a fresh short list of LNG suppliers of int'l spot market soon

1 hour ago | National

Simon Kinberg to write and produce new 'Star Wars' trilogy for Lucasfilm
Simon Kinberg to write and produce new 'Star Wars' trilogy for Lucasfilm

1 hour ago | Showbiz

Nissan shares plummet after deep cuts announcement
Nissan shares plummet after deep cuts announcement

2 hours ago | Economy

Kapil Dev delivers strong message to India batsmen following New Zealand defeat
Kapil Dev delivers strong message to India batsmen following New Zealand defeat

2 hours ago | Sports

All eyes on EC as over 500 names proposed to search committee
All eyes on EC as over 500 names proposed to search committee

2 hours ago | Special

Trump appoints campaign manager Susie Wiles as chief of staff
Trump appoints campaign manager Susie Wiles as chief of staff

2 hours ago | International

Bank of England cuts interest rate amid falling inflation
Bank of England cuts interest rate amid falling inflation

3 hours ago | Economy

Famine looming in Myanmar's Rakhine state: UN
Famine looming in Myanmar's Rakhine state: UN

3 hours ago | International

Putin praises Trump’s courage, signals readiness for dialogue with US
Putin praises Trump’s courage, signals readiness for dialogue with US

3 hours ago | International

Business of harassment with false cases must stop: Barrister Fuaad
Business of harassment with false cases must stop: Barrister Fuaad

3 hours ago | National

Israeli air strikes kill more than 100 across Gaza, Lebanon
Israeli air strikes kill more than 100 across Gaza, Lebanon

4 hours ago | International

Hurricane Rafael heads west across Gulf of Mexico after impacting Cuba
Hurricane Rafael heads west across Gulf of Mexico after impacting Cuba

4 hours ago | International

219 dead, 93 missing, billions in damage in devastating Spain floods
219 dead, 93 missing, billions in damage in devastating Spain floods

4 hours ago | International

Bashundhara Shuvosangho distributes educational materials among children
Bashundhara Shuvosangho distributes educational materials among children

5 hours ago | Shuvosangho

Trump gears up for round two with media
Trump gears up for round two with media

5 hours ago | National

Mega mistakes in mega projects
Mega mistakes in mega projects

5 hours ago | Special

Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win
Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win

15 hours ago | International

Dengue takes 7 more lives in 24hrs
Dengue takes 7 more lives in 24hrs

16 hours ago | National

Delegation of US Indo-Pacific Command paid a courtesy call on Army Chief
Delegation of US Indo-Pacific Command paid a courtesy call on Army Chief

16 hours ago | National

Rickshaw carrying martyr Nafiz to be preserved at Ganabhaban memorial museum
Rickshaw carrying martyr Nafiz to be preserved at Ganabhaban memorial museum

17 hours ago | National

Forest officials rescue 12 endangered capped langurs in Moheshkhali
Forest officials rescue 12 endangered capped langurs in Moheshkhali

17 hours ago | National

Bangladesh Bank Governor urges patience as it could take time to curb inflation
Bangladesh Bank Governor urges patience as it could take time to curb inflation

18 hours ago | Economy

There will be documentation of money wasted in the name of Mujib Year: CA’s Press Secretary
There will be documentation of money wasted in the name of Mujib Year: CA’s Press Secretary

18 hours ago | National

Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River
Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River

18 hours ago | National

Most Read
Netherlands, CGS launch project to empower women and youth in Bangladesh politics
Netherlands, CGS launch project to empower women and youth in Bangladesh politics

23 hours ago | National

Local, foreign investors urged to invest in Bangladesh's marine, offshore industry
Local, foreign investors urged to invest in Bangladesh's marine, offshore industry

18 hours ago | City

Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act
Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act

21 hours ago | National

Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn
Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn

22 hours ago | International

Global icons express their disappointment over Trump's victory
Global icons express their disappointment over Trump's victory

23 hours ago | Showbiz

Which direction will Trump choose on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China?
Which direction will Trump choose on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China?

23 hours ago | International

Former IGP Mamun testifies in tribunal case
Former IGP Mamun testifies in tribunal case

23 hours ago | National

PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal
PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal

22 hours ago | Sports

Biden to address nation after Trump's mighty comeback
Biden to address nation after Trump's mighty comeback

23 hours ago | International

Delegation of US Indo-Pacific Command paid a courtesy call on Army Chief
Delegation of US Indo-Pacific Command paid a courtesy call on Army Chief

16 hours ago | National

Fire erupts in Badda residential building
Fire erupts in Badda residential building

22 hours ago | City

Australia to ban social media for children under 16
Australia to ban social media for children under 16

22 hours ago | Lifestyle

Three arrested over killing of 2 auto-rickshaw drivers in Gendaria
Three arrested over killing of 2 auto-rickshaw drivers in Gendaria

21 hours ago | City

Government prioritizes environmental protection to build a new Bangladesh: Environment Advisor
Government prioritizes environmental protection to build a new Bangladesh: Environment Advisor

20 hours ago | National

Forest officials rescue 12 endangered capped langurs in Moheshkhali
Forest officials rescue 12 endangered capped langurs in Moheshkhali

17 hours ago | National

Bury political divisions for greater national interests: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman
Bury political divisions for greater national interests: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman

19 hours ago | National

Economic census 2024 to begin on 10 Dec
Economic census 2024 to begin on 10 Dec

22 hours ago | Economy

Mumbai police summon Raipur man after Shah Rukh Khan receives death threat over phone
Mumbai police summon Raipur man after Shah Rukh Khan receives death threat over phone

21 hours ago | Showbiz

Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River
Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River

18 hours ago | National

Why coffee could be good for your health
Why coffee could be good for your health

23 hours ago | Lifestyle

British Council launches 3rd ‘Next Generation Bangladesh’ research series
British Council launches 3rd ‘Next Generation Bangladesh’ research series

19 hours ago | City

Touhid sees no major shift in US policy towards Bangladesh under Trump
Touhid sees no major shift in US policy towards Bangladesh under Trump

18 hours ago | National

There will be documentation of money wasted in the name of Mujib Year: CA’s Press Secretary
There will be documentation of money wasted in the name of Mujib Year: CA’s Press Secretary

18 hours ago | National

Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win
Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win

15 hours ago | International

2024 likely to be hottest year on record: EU monitor
2024 likely to be hottest year on record: EU monitor

23 hours ago | Lifestyle

Allotment of land to Bannya’s music school Shurer Dhara cancelled
Allotment of land to Bannya’s music school Shurer Dhara cancelled

22 hours ago | Showbiz

South Korea hints at providing weapons to Ukraine
South Korea hints at providing weapons to Ukraine

19 hours ago | International

Foreign Adviser welcomes new CIRDAP DG
Foreign Adviser welcomes new CIRDAP DG

22 hours ago | National

Price fall in large-cap drives stocks further down
Price fall in large-cap drives stocks further down

20 hours ago | Economy

Inflation in Bangladesh went up in Oct
Inflation in Bangladesh went up in Oct

20 hours ago | Economy