Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola conceded that Bodo/Glimt utilized superior transitional play and momentum to secure a stunning 3-1 victory over the English champions on Tuesday night. The Norwegian side dismantled the City defense in the first half as Kasper Hogh netted a clinical quickfire brace, followed by a third goal from Jens Petter Hauge shortly after the interval.
Although Rayan Cherki managed to reduce the deficit for the visitors, a red card for midfield anchor Rodri effectively extinguished any hopes of a late resurgence in Norway.
The defeat continues a worrying trend for the Manchester club, which has struggled to find consistency in both domestic and European competitions since the start of 2025. Guardiola highlighted the team’s vulnerability to counter-attacks and acknowledged that small tactical details currently favor their opponents. Despite the setback, the Spanish tactician remains focused on a quick turnaround with upcoming fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Galatasaray on the horizon.
Guardiola addressed the media following the disappointing result and emphasized the need for a collective response to halt the current slump. He pointed out that the squad continues to create opportunities but lacks the defensive solidity to withstand high-energy transitions. The City manager also referenced a previous defeat to local rivals Manchester United to illustrate the unpredictable nature of top-tier football.
Pep Guardiola shared his post-match reflections: “We have to come back – the results since 2025 are not good, in terms of the Premier League and now today. 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. [Manchester] United beat us and were better. today they had momentum. But the team was there and we created – on the transition they are really good.”
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