Pep Guardiola frustrated as Manchester City switch off in Premier League loss at Brighton - 'We forgot to play'
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Updated 31/08/2025 at 19:48 GMT+1
Pep Guardiola was unhappy with his side's second-half response, after substitutes James Milner and Brajan Gruda inflicted a 2-1 defeat on the 10-time top-flight champions. One positive for Guardiola was the return of Rodri, who started his first league game for the first time in almost a year. Milner paid tribute to ex-team-mate Diogo Jota in his celebrations and called him a "great man".
'We forgot to play' - Guardiola left frustrated after Brighton defeat
Video credit: SNTV
Pep Guardiola was left unimpressed by Manchester City's response as Brighton's substitutes inspired a 2-1 comeback victory at the Amex on Sunday.
James Milner's second-half penalty cancelled out Erling Haaland's 34th-minute opener, before fellow replacement Brajan Gruda struck the winner eight minutes from time.
As per BBC Sport, it is the first time since the 2004/05 season that City have lost two of their opening three Premier League matches, having lost 2-0 to Tottenham a week before their trip to the south coast.
But Guardiola was content with his side's performance prior to Milner's equaliser and denied that Fabian Hurzeler's four changes after an hour of the game affected his team.
"We were excellent for one hour," Guardiola told BBC Sport. "After the goal we forgot to play. We were thinking of the consequences.
"I like many, many things we are doing. Like against Tottenham, we started well. I like many things the team has done here today but we were unable to win. When we conceded the goal we stopped playing."
He added to Viaplay: "When they scored the game shifted. Until the goal we were very good, we had chances and played a good game. Unfortunately we could not do it.
"The second half, the first 15 minutes we played well, but then we conceded the goal and forgot to play. The goal changed [the game], not the substitutions.
"Unfortunately it was a penalty and we then forgot to play. Everybody makes substitutions to get better."
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The 10-time league champions now head into the September international break in the bottom half of the table, with a worse early record than local rivals Manchester United.
But Guardiola was not willing to be drawn into talk of a crisis with only three matches played.
"It's one game. The season has just started. There is a long, long season ahead of us. We will see what happens," he said.
The Manchester clubs will meet at the Etihad on September 14.
One positive for Guardiola on Sunday was the return of Ballon d'Or holder Rodri, who made his first league start since suffering an ACL injury in September 2024.
"He played 90 minutes and I would say that he could handle his minutes in the national team and after we start the season," said Guardiola.
Rodri told City's official website: "I’m not Lionel Messi. I’m not going to come back and make the team win and win. This is a collective. When we won in the past, I needed all my teammates.
"For sure I have to recover and find my best level. It’s not because I’m back we’re going to win. It’s a collective sport. Hopefully after the break we can come back much better."
Milner offers touching tribute to Jota
Former Liverpool star Milner scored his first goal since December 2019 and paid tribute to ex-team-mate Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident in July.
While The Reds retired Jota's shirt number in honour of his memory, the 39-year-old chose to switch his to No. 20 for the 2025/26 season as a "mark of respect".
After scoring from the spot on Saturday, Milner imitated Jota's video game celebration and after the match said that he had gotten "help" from "the great man".
"It was horrific [what happened to him]. He was a great guy and a great team-mate. I loved him as both," Milner told BBC Sport.
"I've not scored [in the Premier League] for six years and I was wearing his number. Obviously I've got help from the great man."
The former England international signed a one-year contract extension in the summer and is now 13 Premier League appearances away from equalling Gareth Barry's record of 653.
And Milner admitted that he thought his time might have been up at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
"I thought last season might be my last [because of injury]. It's nice to get it [the goal] in a victory. I'm delighted for the boys. In the first two games we didn't feel we got what we deserved," said Milner.
"This win was a real squad effort. It was a great move by the manager [to make four changes at once]. The least we can do is come on and try and lift the tempo."
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