Pep Guardiola issues damning verdict on Man City improvement at Aston Villa

Manchester City were put through a miserable 90 minutes at Villa Park as they lost their third Premier League game of the season

Manchester City's improvement in the second half against Aston Villa was not enough to convince Pep Guardiola they could pick up three points.

That was the damning conclusion from the City boss as the Treble winners were outplayed over 90 minutes to fall into fourth place behind their conquerors on the night and sit six points behind leaders Arsenal. Two efforts from Erling Haaland within a first-half minute were the only shots City managed at Emi Martinez, while the home team racked up a whopping 22 shots.

Guardiola was pleased with the improvement shown by his team in the second half after an opening 45 minutes that did not go to plan. However, the City manager feels that his team is not showing the knack for picking up results that they have done in previous seasons and even when they played better it wasn't enough to feel like the game would go in their favour.

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"In the first half, we struggled to follow what we spoke. We adjusted something at half time and it was much better and the team had a better dynamic but we didn't find the players to make the assist or cross or pass," he said.

"We didn't have the feeling that we are going to do something and we missed it.

"I give more credit to Aston Villa than what we have done. They have the ability to punish you and the contact behind our players, they played good.

"We have to accept it when a team is better and recognise it. Before, when we played a good level and were not able to win, before we were able to win so we have to change the dynamic on Sunday at Luton."