Every word Josep Guardiola said after the historical loss against Brighton.

Q: Sam, what did you make of the game today and how does that tie into what else has been happening recently with the results performance?

A: Everything was different from the last four. In this one, we played 17 minutes really good in the first half. The second half was not good. Today we played really good in the first half, and considering the opponent, what we created… Yeah, we could not finish the game, but never finish in the Premier League but have advantage quite similar.

Maybe we’re not consistent to maintain the game or our intensity press and be aggressive there for 90 minutes. In the second half, we could not be more aggressive in these areas, and after they contact for the position that they are good at, and at the end they scored goals.

Q: What’s the reason for not being able to keep up the aggression? Is it as simple as being tired? The injuries have had a big effect. Are you expecting a lot of work during the international break?

A: No, just clean our heads and the players come back fit – this is the target. To try to get the players when they come back… I would like to play the level we played in the first half. I know how we are playing. I know I’m not going to convince you, this is not my target. I know the level we are playing is really, really good in certain moments, but we are not able to continue for a long time in certain moments. But I’m pretty sure when the players come back and we can make some individual qualities on the team, we’ll be back.

Q: This is quite an unfamiliar thing for you. I don’t think you’ve ever lost four games as a manager in a row. How strange is it for you?

A: Welcome! Always happen one time in lifetime, right? Always there’s a first time in lifetime. Of course, we have to change it. We lost two Premier League games, that is the point. And of course, you have to change, you have to start to get back to winning. But yeah, we are in the position that we are in the table in the Champions League again, and hopefully with the players coming back, I don’t have any doubts that we will be back at our best.

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Q: Is this the biggest challenge you’ve had?

A: When we win 60 games in a row, right? To win the Premier Leagues and go 17 to win the Premier Leagues… Sometimes it’s in that way, sometimes in that way it happens. Normally people lose games, right? Always is the first time in life, you know. So the situation is that, and that’s why I said before – this is my challenge, our challenge. And I like to face it. I will not step back at all, less than ever. More than ever I want to do it, and we will try again because we try.

You analyze for the fact that how we perform, right? When you see four in a row, the answer is done – four in a row, okay. So the question is how we are playing. Bournemouth in acceptable terms, I would say otherwise would be upset with me – they deserve it, they play much, much better. But the other games were really, really good. In the Carabao Cup, we were really good for the players that we play, the young lads, and today again.

There are many, many positive things in the game in Liverpool and today, but we lost. And when we lost, I’m here, but looks like my argument excuses – that is the point. This is what I feel. When I play bad, I’m the first to say I don’t like it, but I don’t have that feeling.

What I’m going to have to make with Balanga came in, with João Pedro, with the new guys came in – they were strong. We could not make the impact and our changes were not good, and from my fault. And we could not sustain the rhythm and the level that we play in the first half.

Of course, Kyle is not ready for 90 minutes at all because he didn’t train – few games, few training sessions this season so far. And still we are not able to do it for a long time. But that’s what I said. So hopefully we can maintain that level with the old squad as much as possible come back. But you know, Madrid today three or four players injured again. So in all the teams, all the clubs there are a lot of injuries, and hopefully we can turn around and come back with the players being fit.

Q: You mentioned obviously winning 16 games in a row in this side. Are you serious right now about having to try to win one and we’ll see what happens next?

A: Because when we won 14 or 16, we never think about how much we win – that game, another game, another game. This is what we did, and now the target is rest, don’t see each other, everyone recover. The players go to international games, play as good as possible, come back fit, and come back okay. This next Tottenham, let’s go for it. If it’s enough, it’s enough. If it’s not enough, then we’re not going to win, what can you say? And after, the teams and everyone take the decision what we have to take.

But there’s no more than that. I’m not thinking never, even when we won in November, think ‘oh we’re going to win, we’re going to win.’ What’s next, what’s next? In the way we played in certain moments was really, really good, in our highest level.

Q: Often when you’ve lost games in the past, you’ve been very positive about the performance, and that’s clearly the case in some of the games recently. But all these great sides come to an end, and the rest of us, we’re all looking for the signs that an era is coming to an end. Are you telling us this era is not finished yet, this group of players are not?

A: It’s what you want, not finished. You know that is one that people want, right? But it’s normal. We won a lot, it happens. But I would like to have all the squad, you know, to fight, and if someone does it, okay congratulations. Not giving away because we are not there. I had that feeling – we are not there, we cannot do it every three days, three days, four days, three days with the situations that we are.

I would love to have the players, you know. But I remember I said previous time – Liverpool, after winning Champions League, Premier League, one year was bad. Six months, one year, and lots went to Europa League. We need that to have it, but now we don’t have it. But at the end, with how we want to play, our mistakes, yeah, but in general it happens. The end is going to come, yeah, for sure. This is not eternal.

So in the next 55 years, City is not going to win every Premier League, right? That’s for sure. It’s not going to happen. But try to – why not? This is what I would like. And I see the players in the training and the way they played, start the game in the first half and start the game in Liverpool, and said we’re going to do it again and do it again. They’re there, but the reality is not enough.

So here in this business, you have to win games, and now we are not winning games, especially in the Premier League right now. And of course you have to change. The players know it, but that will help us to be more focused. The desire to come back and the players feel it, and we will see when it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.

Q: Can I just ask you about the conversation at the end with Van Hecke?

A: Well, no, that he’s strong with Erling and Erling stand up. He had to stand up, he cannot go to the grass. Stay strong, no? If you pull him all the game and after we fight, stay there like here all the time. But he played a really good game, congratulations.

Q: Do you see similarities this year to previous?

A: No, no. We’re playing better. Results can be similar because the fact you play two or three or four is not the point. It’s the point that we don’t have players. We have four central defenders – they are not there, anyone is there. Four, four, four are injured. And our best player is not there – Kevin De Bruyne is way away from his best. Doku is injured, Jack is injured.

So we can do one game and do it, but be consistent is not in the second half. I can use when the people can use Manuel or can use Nathan or can use Ruben, and after that and the last minutes I need to change the game and put Doku or put another players. We can do it but – looks like, please don’t misunderstand me, looks like that I’m complaining that the player is not… We play really good, my point of view. Listen, you have an opinion, have an opinion, I give you your answer.

We play really good but to play three… You tell me what is comparing the last previous seasons – previous season we have the squad, now we don’t have it. So this is the main difference. But we have to survive with that, we have to live with that. And how we behave is… Yeah, was good.

Was Manuel… No, otherwise would have played. Having having 10 days to recover, I would have played, but they were not ready. They are not ready. Manuel said “Yes, I felt so bad in the training session, I could not move properly.” And against that team, I prefer fresh people.

The guy played really good, the young lad again with this composure and duels and everything was good. It’s not easy for him, and normally the young lads must come in with a support for the team with Rodri in front of you, right? With the best guy and defenders. And now, you know, you support him. Now he’s playing a position that is difficult for him and he performs unbelievable. We have a central defender to help us for the future, for the next years. I’m really pleased. Always there are good news, you know, when situation go bad, and this is one of them.