Manchester City were handed their second consecutive Premier League defeat on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 by Brighton & Hove Albion.
Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the Champions League saw City do something they hadn’t done since 2018 – lose three games in a row.
This defeat to Brighton has now taken that losing streak to four in a row.
Erling Haaland put his side 1-0 up in the 23rd minute, but two goals in five minutes during the second half for the home team led to another disappointment for the champions.
During what was a key point of the match, one particular figure from City’s squad found himself being named by a pundit in a way that no player wants to be spoken about.
Josko Gvardiol slammed after City lose to Brighton
Speaking on talkSPORT just after Matt O’Riley scored Brighton’s winning goal, just five minutes after Joao Pedro’s equaliser, Jason Cundy slammed Josko Gvardiol for his involvement in the match.
He said: “What I have seen in the second half, they [Brighton] have been much the better team. Gvardiol is having an absolute torrid time at the back there, the keeper comes in, it’s a good finish.”
Gvardiol isn’t the only City defender at blame for latest defeat
Gvardiol, who is picking up a weekly wage of £200k-a-week at the Manchester club, completed the full 90 minutes against Brighton, as he did in midweek.
Against Sporting, City conceded two goals within the first five minutes of the second half.
Having done the same thing but a bit later on in the second period against the Seagulls, this further highlights how vulnerable they are at the back still.
With Cundy picking out Gvardiol for his struggles at the back around the time Brighton’s goals went in, the Croatian could have redeemed himself late on in the game when he missed a chance to head in a cross from Kyle Walker that would have been a crucial equaliser for the Citizens.
However, for City’s continued defensive issues, the blame should not fully be planted at Gvardiol’s door but at the entire team.
Moving forward, with a big match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium awaiting City after the latest international break, everyone at the club will be desperate to grab a win and get their season back on track.
