Pep Guardiola aims cheeky dig at Manchester United and fires clear Man City message

Pep Guardiola insists he will relish the challenge of getting Manchester City's season back on track after their thumping defeat at Sporting Lisbon.

City were beaten 4-1 in Portugal despite taking an early lead through Phil Foden and have now lost three matches in a row in three different competitions. The Blues visit Brighton on Saturday in the Premier League before the November international break.

And Guardiola insisted he saw plenty of positives in Lisbon despite the scoreline, and said he is ready for the fight of restoring City's campaign. The Etihad chief also aimed a cheeky dig at rivals Manchester United when discussing their new boss Ruben Amorim, who was in the Sporting dug-out for the penultimate time on Tuesday night ahead of his move to Old Trafford. Here's every word from the City boss.

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Bernardo has said City are in a dark place. Do you see it like that or is it a bigger challenge?

"I don't agree with him. We played really bad against Bournemouth and really good today The only regret is conceding the third and fourth. The penalties are not necessary. They did a good action at the start of the second half but 44 minutes left and emotionally we were not stable.

"We made a really good first half against a top team, we were close to scoring a second and third but emotions are difficult when after two minutes of the second half you are losing 3-1. We knew it would be a tough season at the start but this is what it is. I like it, I love it, I want to face it and lift my players and try it. Life is like this. Maybe the past six Premier Leagues in seven years and four in a row is an exception. Today we played really good, Bournemouth they deserved it. Continue."

What do you mean when you say you weren't emotionally stable

"In these actions. We don't have to touch the opponent in the 18-yard box. Of course we were stable. We lost 4-1, congratulations there is no defence today. We lost, we deserved it but I know the way we behaved today, how good we were and the young central defender had an exceptional game. Nothing else. When you lose 4-1, what can I say? I like my team, we were so close to 0-3, the stadium was calm, but in one action we lost simple things with quality. We created more."

Looking forward to Brighton?

"What should we do? Go back to Manchester and prepare the game in Brighton. I won't give up, that's for sure."

The players are understandably down. How do you convince the players to the way you saw the performance?

"They know it. I know it is impossible to say because we lost 4-1 but they know they played good. In certain moments we weren't what we were but we are at a point where we have to do a lot to score goals but they didn't do anything apart from the goals and doing that against an exceptional team. Maybe I'm wrong but . . . "

Is it a problem that it's hard for you to score and easy for opponents to score against you?

"It happened in my first year, we played really good. Sometimes it happens, I have to try to find an explanation but sometimes it's just football so accept it. Sport is that. Life is that. Sometimes we have bad moments but we face the reality. Everyone has to try to be better and we will find it. We are still alive in all competitions and we continue."

Were you surprised at the way Sporting came at you and kept coming when they were winning

"In transitions they were really strong. They sat back [at 3-1] but they run a lot in transitions. When we lose the ball in transitions, they can do it. Emotionally we were fine. I have been in that position many times. Football is an emotional feeling but we reacted good after a tough defeat at Bournemouth. it's not easy and for them it's fantastic. After, we can analyse the reasons why wee have been doing that but we did incredible build-up."

You've seen a lot of young managers come and go. Amorim has a big reputation. Are you looking forward to him being at United?

"We will face them two times in the Premier League and maybe the FA Cup. In the Champions League it is not possible. We will see. I learn from all the managers I faced and Ruben as well. You have to understand my concern is focused not on the challenge of playing United, it's seeing what we can do to get back to their best."

Considering all the experience you have faced, were you impressed by the Sporting fans?

"It was good in pre-game. At 0-1 it was quiet, and after 1-1 they were in good momentum and starting the second half with 3-1 in two minutes it's normal. I'm pretty sure Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece these environments are here it was really cool. Of course the result was not good but it was nice to be here. Congratulations to Sporting for the victory."

How do you think Ruben will do at United?

"I don't know. I don't know if he's going to be better than we are. We will have to wait. Welcome, of course. I'm happy to see him and wish him all the best but I don't know what's going to happen with Ruben in the next two, three, four years. Only Ruben can answer that."