Pep Guardiola Vows Manchester City Will Regain Confidence 'sooner Or Later' After Another Defeat

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted his struggling Premier League champions will regain their confidence after a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday meant they had lost nine of their last 12 matches in all competitions.

Jhon Duran gave Villa an early lead before Morgan Rogers doubled the Birmingham club's advantage in the 65th minute.

Phil Foden's stoppage-time goal for visitors City came too late to change the result as Villa climbed above Guardiola's men into fifth place in the table.

Defeat extended the worst run of Guardiola's celebrated managerial career but the City boss was adamant he and his players could regain their confidence, telling TNT Sports 'Step by step, we have nice personalities in the team and sooner or later we are going to find it.'

Guardiola praised a Villa side managed by fellow Spanish boss Unai Emery by saying 'Congratulations Aston Villa and keep going. In the mid-block they are so strong.