City raced to a 5–1 lead at Craven Cottage, only to find themselves under intense pressure late on as Fulham mounted a spirited comeback. Speaking ahead of City’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Sunderland, Guardiola joked that broadcasters owed him and Fulham manager Marco Silva “a bottle of wine” for producing a nine-goal showcase of attacking football.
“If I were at home watching that game, I wouldn’t change the channel,” he said. “Broadcasters must be happy with us — they should have some consideration for Marco and myself.”
Despite the entertainment value, Guardiola did not hide his frustration at the number of goals his team has conceded in recent weeks. City have already let in 16 league goals, significantly more than leaders Arsenal, underscoring a growing vulnerability at the back.
“Of course I don’t like conceding two goals against Leeds and four against Fulham,” he said. “Six goals in two games is not good. But we are still the team scoring the most, and we have to build from that. We need to be more solid — it’s everyone’s responsibility, not just the defenders or goalkeepers.”
City relinquished their Premier League crown to Liverpool last season and are now attempting to mount a steadier challenge, but defensive inconsistencies have become a recurring theme. Guardiola emphasised that while opponents are not creating many clear-cut chances, City’s lapses in concentration are proving costly.
Looking ahead to Sunderland, who sit sixth in their first season back in the top flight, Guardiola warned against underestimating the promoted side.
“They deserve to be where they are,” he said. “When you’re promoted and you play well for five games, that can be momentum. But doing it over 14 matches in this league shows real quality.”
Guardiola confirmed that midfielder Rodri will miss the match as he continues to recover from a hamstring problem. “He’s getting better,” he noted. “I don’t know how long it will take, but he will be ready.”
City now turn their focus to stabilising their defence as they attempt to keep pressure on the teams above them — with Sunderland offering another test of their resilience as the season intensifies.