Pep Guardiola wants defensive improvement from Manchester City after admitting his side are ‘conceding a lot of goals’.
City have conceded 10 goals in their last four fixtures in all competitions after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Tottenham at the weekend, while the champions have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight Premier League games.
Three consecutive draws have seen the Citizens drop to third in the table, three points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Guardiola’s side next travel to face Aston Villa on Wednesday evening and the City boss said his side ‘have to get better’ defensively.
“Except the Chelsea game, the chances we are conceding are less than last season when we won the Treble – but the reality is we are conceding a lot of goals,” the Spaniard said at his pre-game press conference.
“We will have to get better, of course. To concede two, three, four goals every game, it is difficult to sustain for a long time, but at the same time we are not losing much and that is a good sign.”
Aston Villa are on a run of 13 consecutive home wins in the Premier League and sit fourth in the table, just a place and point behind City. Guardiola is anticipating a difficult night against a Villa team who are aiming for Champions League football under Unai Emery.
“It is always difficult playing Villa but the form they are in this season, not just at home but away as well – yes, especially at home as they have won everything – it is going to be a tough, tough game. We knew that before and we know it now.”
