Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola conceded that his side found it difficult to cope with rapid counter-attacks during their 3–1 defeat to Bodø/Glimt in Norway on Tuesday night.
The Premier League champions came under intense pressure early in the encounter and went behind after Kasper Høgh netted twice within the opening 30 minutes. Both goals resulted from swift attacking transitions by the hosts, exposing City’s defensive frailties and forcing them to play catch-up for much of the match.
After the interval, Bodø/Glimt continued to push forward and were rewarded when Jens Petter Hauge added a third goal, deepening City’s problems and putting the English champions in a difficult position.
City briefly raised hopes of a comeback when Rayan Cherki reduced the deficit. However, any chance of a late fightback disappeared when Rodri received a second yellow card and was sent off. The red card stopped City’s momentum and allowed the hosts to control the closing stages comfortably.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola reflected on his side’s recent struggles and admitted the result added to a worrying run of form.
“We have to come back, the results since 2025 are not good, in terms of the Premier League and now today,” he said. “But we go forward, Wolves and then Galatasaray. We have the feeling everything is going wrong, the details, but we have to try and change that.
“I don’t have any doubts in this competition, nothing is taken for granted, that is for sure.
Guardiola acknowledged United’s superiority on the night, noting that their opponents capitalised on momentum and transitions. He added that while his team showed commitment and created chances, they were repeatedly punished by a side that excels on the break.
The loss leaves Manchester City in a delicate position in their UEFA Champions League group, heightening the stakes ahead of their decisive clash against Galatasaray on January 28.
