UPDATE: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists his team must learn from their shocking near-collapse against Fulham after a thrilling 5-4 victory on Tuesday at Craven Cottage.
City, who led 5-1 with almost an hour played, nervously held on as Fulham mounted a late fightback, raising urgent questions about their defensive resilience ahead of their upcoming clash with Sunderland on Saturday.
Guardiola stated, “It’s forgotten. Good learnings, hopefully, but it’s forgotten.” He emphasized the importance of reflecting on both successes and failures as the Premier League title race heats up, particularly with Arsenal currently leading the table.
“In modern football, at all the clubs, you have to learn from what happens, to not concede the goals,” he added, acknowledging concerns over their high number of shots conceded. Against Leeds, City allowed two goals from just three shots on target, while Fulham managed to score four from six attempts.
With Sunderland sitting in sixth place, just five points behind City, Guardiola anticipates a challenging match. The Black Cats recently secured a commendable 1-1 draw against Liverpool, further showcasing their competitive edge in the Premier League.
“All I can say is they deserve to be where they are,” Guardiola remarked, praising Sunderland’s performance throughout the season. “In this league, impossible otherwise.”
City will be without midfielder Rodri, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Ballon d’Or winner has played only one minute in the past eleven games and is doubtful for next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.
Despite discussions surrounding the performances of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, Guardiola downplayed concerns, highlighting his strong play earlier this season before injury sidelined him. “Rayan played really good in the Club World Cup and pre-season,” he stated.
As Manchester City prepares for Saturday’s match, all eyes will be on their ability to tighten their defense and regain their dominant form in the Premier League. Fans can expect a crucial battle as they aim to maintain their title challenge amidst growing pressure.
