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Manchester City lost their first Premier League match of the season against Bournemouth
Pep Guardiola expressed frustration over Manchester City's lack of intensity following their 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, which saw the defending champions lose their top spot in the Premier League.
Injury troubles have plagued Guardiola’s side, and with a fatigued lineup, the Cityzens struggled to match Bournemouth’s energy.
Manchester City lose first match of the season to Bournemouth
Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson broke City’s 32-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League, with Josko Gvardiol’s late goal providing only a consolation.
This defeat marks City’s second loss in a row across all competitions, following their Carabao Cup exit to Tottenham.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola did not shy away from acknowledging the impact of City’s injury crisis on their intensity, saying, “We couldn’t match up to the intensity. All the situations with the long balls, we couldn’t win it.”
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City’s defensive lineup was particularly strained, with Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji pushed into action despite limited training due to injuries.
Manchester City’s defensive woes continue
Against Bournemouth, Manchester City were forced to field players with minimal training time, including Kyle Walker, who had just six minutes of preparation in three weeks.
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The timing of Manchester City’s injuries could not be worse, with an upcoming Champions League tie against Ruben Amorim’s Sporting CP on Tuesday.
Guardiola confirmed that vice-captain Ruben Dias is unfit for the trip to Portugal, while England international John Stones remains doubtful with a lingering foot injury.
The Cityzens would be keen to bounce back against Sporting CP after falling to their first loss to Bournemouth in 14 league games.
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