- French court cracks down on Corsican language use in local assembly
- Prosecutors seek up to 14-year terms for French rape trial defendants
- Russia expels UK diplomat accused of espionage
- Israeli security cabinet to discuss ceasefire as US says deal 'close'
- COP29 president blames rich countries for 'imperfect' deal
- Stocks retreat, dollar mixed on Trump tariff warning
- No regrets: Merkel looks back at refugee crisis, Russia ties
- IPL history-maker, 13, who 'came on Earth to play cricket'
- Ukraine says Russia using landmines to carry out 'genocidal activities'
- Prosecutors seek up to 12-year terms for French rape trial defendants
- 'Record' drone barrage pummels Ukraine as missile tensions seethe
- Laos hostel staff detained after backpackers' deaths
- Hong Kong LGBTQ advocate wins posthumous legal victory
- Ukraine says cannot meet landmine destruction pledge due to Russia invasion
- Rod Stewart to play Glastonbury legends slot
- Winter rains pile misery on war-torn Gaza's displaced
- 'Taiwan also has baseball': jubilant fans celebrate historic win
- Russia pummels Ukraine with 'record' drone barrage
- Paul Pogba blackmail trial set to open in Paris
- China's Huawei unveils 'milestone' smartphone with homegrown OS
- Landmine victims gather to protest US decision to supply Ukraine
- Indian rival royal factions clash outside palace
- Equity markets retreat, dollar gains as Trump fires tariff warning
- Manga adaptation 'Drops of God' nets International Emmy Award
- China's Huawei launches 'milestone' smartphone with homegrown OS
- Philippine VP denies assassination plot against Marcos
- Four Pakistan security forces killed as ex-PM Khan supporters flood capital
- Hong Kong's legal battles over LGBTQ rights: key dates
- US lawmakers warn Hong Kong becoming financial crime hub
- Compressed natural gas vehicles gain slow momentum in Nigeria
- As Arctic climate warms, even Santa runs short of snow
- Plastic pollution talks: the key sticking points
- Indonesia rejects Apple's $100 million investment offer
- Pakistan police fire tear gas, rubber bullets at ex-PM Khan supporters
- Ronaldo double takes Al Nassr to brink of AFC Champions League last 16
- Pakistan police fire tear gas, rubber bullets at pro-Khan supporters
- Hong Kong same-sex couples win housing, inheritance rights
- Indonesia digs out as flooding, landslide death toll hits 20
- Liverpool's old guard thriving despite uncertain futures
- Mbappe takes reins for Real Madrid in Liverpool clash
- As AI gets real, slow and steady wins the race
- China's Huawei to launch 'milestone' smartphone with homegrown OS
- Porzingis and Morant make triumphant NBA returns
- Hong Kong top court affirms housing, inheritance rights for same-sex couples
- Philippines, China clashes trigger money-making disinformation
- Most Asian markets drop, dollar gains as Trump fires tariff warning
- England 'not quivering' ahead of New Zealand Test challenge
- Bethell to bat at three on England Test debut against New Zealand
- Trump vows big tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China
- New Zealand and England to play for Crowe-Thorpe Trophy
Man City in a 'dark place' but Guardiola vows to solve the crisis
Bernardo Silva admitted Manchester City are in a "dark place" after their shock 4-1 humiliation at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, but Pep Guardiola vowed to solve his spluttering side's problems.
Viktor Gyokeres's hat-trick and a series of costly City misses condemned Guardiola's men to three successive defeats for the first time since 2018.
Adding to City's misery was the sight of Sporting boss Ruben Amorim celebrating a remarkable victory in his final home game before leaving the Portuguese champions to take charge of Manchester United on November 11.
City's heaviest defeat since 2020 meant, for only the second time in the Guardiola era, they had suffered three consecutive losses in a single season.
After making a strong start to the season, the Premier League champions were beaten by Tottenham in the League Cup last week before losing at Bournemouth on Saturday in their first top-flight defeat since December.
City's unexpected malaise comes amid a rash of injuries to key players including Rodri, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne, who was only fit enough for a brief substitute appearance at the Jose Alvalade stadium.
It was a painful return to Portugal for Lisbon-born Silva, who conceded City are mired in a damaging slump.
"It's disappointing because we're a bit in a dark place right now. Everything looks to be going in the wrong way," he said.
"Even when we are playing well we don't score our chances and we concede too easily.
"We need to get better very quickly otherwise it will be very difficult to come back from these losses.
"It's difficult to find reasons for what is happening to us. It just looks like this team is going the wrong way now.
"Our injured players need to come back because we need them and it's just not good enough tonight."
City's first defeat in four games in this season's Champions League should not be fatal to their European ambitions.
But Guardiola cannot fail to be alarmed by the way his injury-riddled defence was run ragged after Phil Foden put City ahead in the fourth minute.
- 'I like this challenge' -
It didn't help that Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, a 19-year-old centre-back called up due to City's fitness problems, endured a baptism of fire in his first City start.
Erling Haaland's profligate finishing was equally culpable, with the Norway striker hitting the bar with a second-half penalty after missing several opportunities to increase City's advantage in the first half.
"We had a fantastic first half, now we are struggling to score. We create and concede when the opponents don't do much," Guardiola said.
"At 2-1 down, many things can happen. Emotionally we were not stable enough and in this competition you have to be stable.
"Sporting made a good moment, they were fast and scored. It can happen."
Pressed on the reasons for City's collapse, Guardiola admitted their creaky defence and injury issues were taking a toll.
"Maybe. When you play lots of games you cannot play the same line-up and same back four. We have had these problems for day one but it is what it is," he said.
"It is football. Maybe what we lived in the past is the exception. Sometimes you can lose. We were in the position where they punished us for the few they do and we struggled for the chances we had."
City desperately need to bounce back at Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
They are second in the table, two points behind leaders Liverpool, as they chase a fifth successive title and Guardiola insisted he can find an answer to their problems.
"Now is the difficult moment in terms of results but I want to be here. I want to fight and not give up," he said.
"I like this challenge as a manager I have ahead of me. Who wants to follow us will be there."
A.Gasser--BTB