Manchester City faced lighthearted mockery from San Marino following their 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, November 23. San Marino took to their official X (formerly Twitter) account to humorously suggest a match against the reigning Premier League champions, claiming they might secure a victory given Manchester City’s recent struggles.
After City’s official X account posted the match result, San Marino replied with a playful message:
“Hello, please play against us. 🙏 I think we can beat you.”
The banter didn’t stop there, as San Marino followed up with another post:
“Hello, @ManCity. We see that they have been losing all their matches during November; San Marino is undefeated this month, so I think we are in a moment to be able to face them and beat them. We play wherever they want, they always lose anyway, no problem. A hug.”
San Marino, the lowest-ranked FIFA-affiliated national football team, has historically struggled in competitive football, with only three wins in their history—all against Liechtenstein.
Guardiola Addresses Manchester City’s Struggles
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s manager since 2016, addressed the team’s form after their fifth consecutive loss across all competitions. This streak made them the first reigning top-flight champions to endure such a slump since Chelsea in March 1956. Reflecting on the defeat to Spurs and the current situation, Guardiola shared his thoughts on the club’s official website.
“When you lose 0-4, there’s nothing to say except to congratulate Tottenham. We struggled to win back possession and couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities we created. I would say we are quite fragile right now. It’s obvious from the fact that we struggle to score goals while opponents take advantage of their chances.”
Guardiola acknowledged that football is often influenced by confidence and momentum:
“Football is about mood. Winning a lot gives you the belief that you can keep doing it. Losing three Premier League games in a row shakes that belief. We need to work to break this cycle, regain confidence, and return to winning ways.”
The manager expressed his awareness that such dips in performance are inevitable over time:
“Being here for eight years, I knew we would drop at some point. Of course, we didn’t expect to lose three league games in a row. Our consistency has been remarkable for many years, but now we’re facing a period of challenges.”
Spurs Match Analysis and Next Steps
Guardiola analyzed the defeat against Tottenham, highlighting key moments:
“In the first 13 minutes, we conceded a goal on their first chance. Despite creating opportunities, we couldn’t capitalize, and Spurs punished us on transitions. Their physicality made it difficult to control the game. We tried to play with a lot of midfielders to maintain control, but it didn’t work against their strength and intensity.”
He emphasized the need for resilience and adaptation:
“What we’ve achieved over the years is something I’m proud of, but right now we must confront these challenges head-on. The only way forward is to focus on breaking the cycle, starting with the next game.”
Current Standing and Upcoming Challenges
Despite their struggles, Manchester City remains second in the Premier League table with 23 points from 12 games. However, they now trail league leaders Liverpool by eight points. The two sides are set for a crucial encounter at Anfield on December 1, a match that could shape the title race moving forward.