Manchester City’s league title defence will be a struggle, Guardiola admits

‘Be there and at the end we will see if we can arrive in the last month with the chance to fight for the titles,’ Manchester City’s Guardiola said. Photograph: Zed Jameson/PA

Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City must accept that their title defence will be a “struggle and this is fine”.

The champions’ 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth last Saturday followed their Carabao Cup elimination by Tottenham. Guardiola was asked if the consecutive reverses are merely a blip or a deeper concern.