Pep Guardiola will be looking to avoid an unwanted first in his managerial career when his Manchester City side travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Citizens find themselves in unfamiliar territory at present as they are reeling from a run of three successive defeats in all competitions in the space of just seven days.
After losing 2-1 to both Tottenham Hotspur (EFL Cup) and Bournemouth (Premier League), Man City were beaten 4-1 away against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Defeat in Portugal ended City's record-breaking 26-game unbeaten run in the Champions League, while the previous loss at Bournemouth ended their club-record 32-game undefeated streak in the Premier League.
At a time when Man City's first-team resources are heavily depleted, Guardiola has insisted that he is relishing the challenge of swiftly turning his side's fortunes around after watching his team lose three games in a row for the first time since April 2018.
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Guardiola out to avoid unwanted first in 16-year managerial career
The last time that Man City lost four consecutive games was between April and August 2006 when they suffered six defeats on the spin under former boss Stuart Pearce.
Man City have therefore never lost four in a row during Guardiola's nine-year tenure at the club, while the Catalan has in fact never suffered four successive defeats in all competitions as a manager.
Guardiola's illustrious managerial career spans across a 16-year period and has managed three elite clubs during that time - Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now Man City.
The 53-year-old boasts an impressive win percentage of over 72% at all three clubs and has won a combined 39 trophies, but he has never lost four games in a row as a manager.
That could change if his out-of-sorts Man City side suffer defeat against a Brighton outfit who have impressed many under their new boss Fabian Hurzeler, who has guided the Seagulls to 16 points in their opening 10 Premier League games.
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Guardiola: 'Hurzeler is doing an incredible job at Brighton'
Speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of Man City's trip to the Amex, Guardiola praised the work of Hurzeler and how Brighton operate as a club.
"I'm really impressed by the way they play," said Guardiola. "I think the director, chairman, made an incredible job there. Brighton made a lot of signings this season and [Hurzeler] is doing an incredible job - personality, rhythm, the way they play is outstanding.
"Always, they have been tough since Graham Potter, away or home it doesn't matter, and [Saturday's game] will be no exception."
Man City have reason to be optimistic of success this weekend, though, as they have collected 37 points from a possible 42 available against Brighton in the Premier League (W12 D1 L1) and won 4-0 in their last visit to the Amex in April.
Guardiola's side currently sit second in the Premier League table and can climb back to the summit with a win over eighth-placed Brighton, but current leaders Liverpool will end the weekend at the top if they beat Aston Villa on Saturday night.
Oliver Thomas
