Pep Guardiola is experiencing a challenging chapter in his illustrious managerial career after Manchester City’s latest setback—a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. This loss marks the first time Guardiola has suffered four consecutive defeats, adding pressure on the reigning Premier League champions. Former City defender Micah Richards believes that Manchester City must recapture their team cohesion and collaborative spirit if they hope to reverse their current slide.
With back-to-back Premier League defeats on the south coast, first against Bournemouth and now against Brighton, City have fallen five points behind league leaders Liverpool. This slump also includes their recent exit from the League Cup at the hands of Tottenham and a humbling 4-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League. These results have prompted questions about City’s performance levels, team unity, and their ability to withstand adversity.
Speaking about City’s performance against Brighton on *Match of the Day*, Richards highlighted what he believes to be a key issue: the team’s lack of coordinated pressing. “I think the most defining thing for me is they’re not pressing anymore,” Richards said. “When they’re pressing, they’re going as individuals.” This fragmented approach is a departure from Guardiola’s well-drilled pressing systems that have defined City’s dominance in previous years.
Richards also pointed to the absence of key players as a major factor in City’s struggles. “When you lose the best midfielder in Europe, Rodri, you’re always going to have a strain on your team,” he explained. Without Rodri’s presence in the midfield, City have found it too easy to be played through, exposing their defense and disrupting their rhythm. Richards did, however, single out young defender Jahmal Simpson-Pusey for his effort, especially during the match against Sporting. “He had a couple of moments that were difficult for him,” Richards acknowledged, “but I just think they’re playing as a team of individuals at this moment in time.”
Guardiola, for his part, has lamented the impact of City’s extensive injury list. With several key players sidelined—Jack Grealish, John Stones, Rodri, and Jeremy Doku among them—Guardiola has found it difficult to maintain his preferred style of play. Richards believes the upcoming international break could offer Guardiola a chance to regroup and recalibrate. “I think it’s come at the right time,” Richards said. “He’s right to mention the injuries: they’ve got Grealish, Stones, Rodri, and Doku out. Bobb was injured at the start of the season as well.”
While City grappled with their issues, Brighton found their spark in the second half thanks to Carlos Baleba. The halftime substitute delivered a game-changing performance, turning the tide in Brighton’s favor and helping them overturn a one-goal deficit to secure victory. Premier League all-time top scorer Alan Shearer praised Baleba’s impact, describing his dynamic display in glowing terms. “Second half it all changed. This guy came on and this guy got amongst them. He showed energy, he showed aggression,” Shearer said. “In the first half, Brighton didn’t get close to them: this guy did. He got into them and he rattled them.”
Baleba’s influence was felt throughout the second half. Shearer credited him with transforming Brighton’s approach and raising the team’s intensity. “Brighton were a totally different team in the second half and it all started because of him. He played on the front foot, and all of a sudden…yes, they got a couple of goals, but they should have scored four or five,” Shearer noted. Baleba’s ability to drive past opponents and disrupt City’s rhythm helped change the game’s tempo, allowing Brighton to assert themselves both offensively and defensively.
City’s passivity, especially in the second half, allowed Brighton to exploit gaps and find their attacking rhythm. “City sat back, they didn’t press, and all of a sudden Brighton could play and do their stuff,” Shearer observed. The victory was a well-deserved reward for Brighton’s transformation in the second half, fueled by Baleba’s presence and a collective effort to capitalize on City’s disorganization.
As Guardiola and Manchester City look to move forward, the path back to winning form will require a mix of tactical adjustments, injury recoveries, and a renewed emphasis on team cohesion. The challenges of this season have tested Guardiola’s resolve, but they also offer a chance for City to reassert their status as one of the Premier League’s most formidable teams. The international break provides a crucial opportunity to reset, and fans will be eager to see if City can emerge stronger and more united in the weeks to come. For now, Guardiola must navigate a rare moment of adversity in his career, while City supporters hope that this rough patch will be a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block.