Pep Guardiola has admitted that another Premier League team may 'deserve' to win the title this season following Manchester City's 2-1 defeat away against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
After losing each of their previous three games in three different competitions across a seven-day period against Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and Sporting Lisbon, losing 4-1 to the latter in the Champions League last Tuesday, City's woes looked to be easing as they boasted a one-goal lead heading into the final 12 minutes at the Amex Stadium.
Leading marksman Erling Haaland had given the Citizens the lead in the 23rd minute with his record-breaking 75th Premier League goal and his 12th strike of the campaign.
However, Fabian Hurzeler called on Joao Pedro and Matt O'Riley in the second half to provide the goods for Brighton off the substitutes' bench, with both players scoring in the space of just five minutes to turn the contest on its head in dramatic fashion.
Man City have now lost four games in a row for the first time since a six-game losing streak between April and August 2006 under former boss Stuart Pearce.
Guardiola, meanwhile, has suffered four successive defeats in all competitions for the very first time in his 16-year managerial career. Reacting to that unwanted feat in his post-match press conference, the Catalan said: "Welcome! There is always time for a first in life."
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Guardiola: 'We have to change things quick'
The Citizens, who won an unprecedented fourth consecutive top-flight title last season, remain second in the table and have fallen five points behind leaders Liverpool, who beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield.
Although there are still 27 Premier League games left to play, Guardiola has admitted that his City side could be forced to hand over their top-flight crown to a worthy rival, something that is sure to alert both Liverpool and Arsenal who are regarded by many as the Citizens' biggest title challengers.
Guardiola was asked about his side's worrying form during a post-game interview with BBC Match of the Day, and he said: "We have to try and win games again. We were not able to sustain the rhythm in the second half.
"Four [defeats] in a row. We have to change things quick. The schedule becomes tough but it is going to happen when the players come back.
"Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserve it. We see what happens in Liverpool against Aston Villa, we'll see."
"We are not able to do 90 minutes right now," Guardiola added when alluding to his team's fitness woes and injury crisis. "We played a really good first half and moments in the second half. We lost again so clean our heads, international break and hopefully our players come back fit."
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Guardiola urges Man City to 'clear their heads' during international break
Speaking to Sky Sports, Guardiola said: "[Our injured players] are not here. The guys [who played] did really, really well. They were magnificent.
"Brighton are good with the ball. They are not easy to control. In the first half we were brilliant, but in the second half fatigue [sets in] and they make changes. We will clear our heads and come back after the international break."
He continued: "Two [defeats] in the Premier League. You have to count the victories and defeats, and we will win a lot. If you have to count how many victories in a row, we are far away from that position.
"It's not nice to lose two in a row (in the league). The performance in certain moments is good, but not in all the minutes we need. We have to change to win again. We're not far away - second going into the international break."
Man City had to cope without Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku against Brighton due to injury, while a host of other first-team stars are in desperate need of an extended break in the eyes of Guardiola, who will hope that many of those can rest up during the international break.
The Citizens will return to Premier League action on November 23 when they welcome Tottenham to the Etihad Stadium, before facing leaders Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Aston Villa in their next five top-flight fixtures.
Oliver Thomas
