Following Manchester City’s surprising 2-1 defeat to Brighton, Pep Guardiola addressed a tense moment between Jan Paul van Hecke and Erling Haaland that occurred late in the match.
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The confrontation, which took place in the dying moments of injury time, saw both players booked after Haaland pulled Van Hecke to the ground inside Brighton’s penalty area.
Guardiola, visibly frustrated, approached Van Hecke on the pitch after the final whistle, expressing discontent over how the Brighton defender handled the situation.
Guardiola later clarified his comments, explaining he was critical of Van Hecke’s decision to go down after contesting Haaland. “He was strong against Erling the entire game,” Guardiola remarked.
“But when Erling stands up, you have to stand up too. You can’t just go to the grass; stay strong.” Despite the tension, Guardiola credited Van Hecke for his performance, acknowledging Brighton’s overall strength on the day.
City’s defeat represents a challenging period for Guardiola, as it marked the first time in his managerial career that he has lost four consecutive games.
The loss leaves City trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by two points, with Liverpool’s fixture against Aston Villa still to come. Guardiola pointed to City’s injury woes as a significant factor behind their poor run.
“We don’t have players,” he admitted, citing the absences of key defenders and midfielders, including Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, and Jack Grealish. The lack of depth has affected City’s consistency, especially in crucial moments late in games.
While Guardiola acknowledged that his team played well overall, he noted that injuries have left him without the flexibility to make necessary adjustments.
Guardiola emphasized that while previous seasons saw City equipped with a strong squad, this year has proven more difficult without the same level of depth.
Despite the setbacks, Guardiola affirmed City’s need to adapt and endure through the season’s challenges.
