Pep Guardiola conceded Manchester City are struggling to adapt to the changes to their squad after watching his team succumb to a second-half comeback at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Having been beaten 2-0 at home by Tottenham last week, City looked poised to bounce back when Erling Haaland put them ahead in the 34th minute.
Haaland marked his 100th Premier League appearance with his 88th goal in the division, yet City were unable to add to their lead despite dictating play.
And they were punished in the 67th minute when James Milner equalised from the penalty spot against his former club after Matheus Nunes was ruled to have handled in the area.
City never regained control from there, and they were condemned to a second successive defeat a minute from the end of normal time when Brajan Gruda rounded James Trafford and rolled home the winner for Brighton.
Several additions have been made to City’s squad in the transfer window, with Trafford, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders all in the starting XI at Brighton. Rayan Cherki was not included in the squad.
And Guardiola hinted that his team is still struggling to gel as they head into the international break with just three points from nine games.
“We concede the goal and after that it shifted,” Guardiola told Sky Sports after the 2-1 defeat.
“Until then it was really, really good, we had chances and the team looked aggressive and dynamic. We made a good hour and then after the last half an hour we were not good. We forgot to pass the ball, just played long balls and we were not good enough. It is what it is.
“Erling is our big threat but in general we made a good hour and after we concede the goal, a bit like Tottenham, we concede and everywhere we don’t continue to do what we need to do. It can happen, you still have time because it is possible to concede in the Premier League. Of course everyone makes the substitutions to get better and they did it well but it all changed after the goal.
“We have a really good squad and of course we changed many things form the past to now, which is normal, we need new players to adapt and we need the older ones to help them to cope.”
Guardiola impressed with returning Rodri
Rodri made his first start in 11 months for City following the serious knee injury he suffered last September.
Guardiola was pleased with the display produced by last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, and is hopeful the clarity provided by the end of the transfer window, which shuts for the Premier League on Monday, will help his squad improve in the coming weeks.
“Rodri played a really good performance and he is a top character,” Guardiola added. “Happy he played 90 minutes and I would say that he could handle his minutes in the national team and after we start the season.
“I like many things that we are doing and when we come back we know the squad we are going to have and we are going to try to compete.”
