Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the nature of the losses to Real Madrid and Manchester United this season have been difficult to take.

While he can accept comprehensive defeats to the likes of Arsenal, the fact that the Cityzens have lost games when they were in a good position to win them has greatly irritated Guardiola:

“You lose 3-0, 5-1 against Arsenal, it’s easy to swallow. It’s more difficult these ones at Brentford, against United, and the last game against Madrid, and these games.”

“You have to accept it because it’s not normal, but it’s the reality. What can you do? Cry? Complain? It is what it is. We are not good enough.”

City’s defence has been weak

While in past seasons the Premier League champions would have been able to see out the matches against the likes of Brentford, Manchester United and Real, their backline has been very poor this season.

Mistakes have cost Guardiola’s men but it has been the team’s lack of intensity off the ball which has really sabotaged their chances of winning trophies.

Instilling new energy in the first-team squad is the solution

Guardiola made several changes to the lineup for the 4-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend and the difference in the team’s performance was eye-catching.

January signings Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush all started the Premier League fixture, while summer recruit Savinho was also in the eleven.

All of these players are 26 or under and that youthful exuberance was on full show both in and out of possession. It will be interesting to see how many of them start the second leg of the Champions League tie against Real in Madrid later this week.

Read our exclusive interview with Shaun Wright-Phillips. He talks about why City should still make the top 4 this season.