Pep Guardiola has 'obsessed' over Manchester City's rotten run 'maybe too much' according to his goalkeeper Stefan Ortega this week. But he looked like he simply had no answers for another shambolic defensive display that abandoned all 'basics' that they usually rely on.

But for Ortega, Guardiola's woes would have been compounded even earlier at Aston Villa as he produced two big saves in the opening two minutes to keep City level. The Blues picked up where they left off last weekend at the end of the shambolic Manchester derby, and were lucky to be just one goal down at the break.

Jhon Duran's goal was no surprise to anyone who had seen City's previous 11-and-a-half games. Two passes from Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez to former City youngster Morgan Rogers and the Blues had been carved open easier than next week's Christmas turkey.

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John Stones and Manu Akanji were back, but City were making the same mistakes. The midfield, supported by Rico Lewis, was non-existent and made a mockery of the pre-match news that the Blues don't expect to sign either Bruno Guimaraes or Martin Zubimendi. If not them, then they certainly need something else in midfield because the current system is broken.

City have conceded 26 goals now in 12 games, only offering a goal of their own in response on four occasions. At one point in the first half, City gave the ball away (again) in midfield and Villa pounced dangerously.

Guardiola could only turn away and walk slowly in the other direction. Another simple goal conceded, another set of City heads dropping.

There was no animated reaction from Guardiola here, no dropping to his knees. Not even arms out in frustration. He looked sombre and resigned to the mistakes.

He offered some extra words of advice in the tunnel before the restart as Kyle Walker came on for Stones. It was another half-time change in defence where Guardiola can't catch a break, and he arrived at Villa with three more players on the injury list, albeit with three back.

When Rogers made it two, Guardiola was still as a statue then a slow turn, and barely a flicker as Villa Park erupted.

City players trudged back, not even arguing among themselves, and Guardiola then called over Bernardo for a quick word. It wasn't enough, and if Guardiola can't see where the turnaround will come from, how can the players?

Erling Haaland was barely involved and has begun to sulk when he doesn't get the service he's lacked for weeks. Grealish visibly complained when the ball didn't come to him on occasion, despite him creating just one cross for a teammate from countless balls out to his side.

Guardiola took his players to the away end at full-time and consoled some on the pitch as they began their own debriefs before getting to the dressing room. What more can he do?

There is a disharmony in the City squad and nobody appears to have any answers. The fact that even Guardiola struggled to muster encouragement from the sidelines is probably more concerning than any tactical mistake.