Pep Guardiola: Manchester City couldn’t handle Bournemouth

The champions were stunned on the south coast on Saturday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola said Man City “couldn’t handle” Bournemouth as their long unbeaten run was ended (Adam Davy/PA)

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City “couldn’t handle” Bournemouth as his injury-hit side lost 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium to see their unbeaten run in the Premier League ended after 32 games.

The champions were without key players, and in the absence of John Stones and Ruben Dias fielded a makeshift defence into which Bournemouth ripped with a fearless attacking display, capped by goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson to beat City in the league for the first time.