It’s understandable for Bournemouth fans to be thrilled after defeating the Premier League champions, though Manchester City isn’t usually on the receiving end of such celebrations. Andoni Iraola’s team will need to build on this momentum.
City’s first league loss of the season was a stark reminder of their current struggles. Following a midweek cup loss to Spurs, which ended their unbeaten streak, Pep Guardiola’s side finds itself facing challenges.
Those who thought the title race was settled after Arsenal’s loss to Newcastle may need to reconsider, as City remains in the mix despite the 2-1 defeat, where Josko Gvardiol’s late goal only softened the scoreline.
The hosts didn’t necessarily have more desire, but they outworked City—a rare sight against a Guardiola team. City’s performance was sloppy, and they earned little from the match. Guardiola’s frustration was visible on the sidelines, though he held back from fully expressing his dissatisfaction.
Injuries have been a growing irritation for Guardiola, with new setbacks adding to his concerns. Although players like Jeremy Doku, Kyle Walker, and Kevin De Bruyne returned for the Bournemouth game, John Stones and Ruben Dias joined the injury list.
Guardiola has stressed that players need to push through injuries, but City’s small squad, a strategic choice by Guardiola, is feeling the strain. A recent report shows City players have averaged over 60 games per season since 2018, with regular starters like Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan, and Ederson all in action against Bournemouth, so this wear isn’t new.
However, dealing with it remains a challenge, especially against a resilient Bournemouth side, who had already beaten Arsenal this season.
Iraola has elevated Bournemouth’s game, and they were quick to celebrate, scoring their first goal soon after Ederson’s double save in the second minute.
The home crowd erupted as Milos Kerkez sprinted past Foden, and Antoine Semenyo shrugged off Gvardiol before firing into the far corner. City seemed a step behind throughout, but they had no excuses.
City is used to playing from behind this season, with patience and timing often their strengths. At Bournemouth, though, while signs of this strategy were present, City found it harder to break through than to be broken down. Any progress they made was quickly unraveled by swift Bournemouth moves.
A telling moment came when City’s attack was halted, and Walker lost possession to Semenyo, committing a foul in frustration. Guardiola looked to the bench, but Nathan Ake couldn’t continue, leaving only Rico Lewis to come on.
The day seemed destined for City to fall short, as they were down 2-0 when Evanilson headed in Kerkez’s cross midway through the second half.
In tense injury time, the Bournemouth fans quieted as Gvardiol scored with a powerful header, adding some drama to the final minutes. Still, City likely lacked the energy to voice any objections about the outcome.
