Pep Guardiola is starting to experience crisis at Manchester City. It is a new feeling for the 53-year-old, who has transformed the fortunes of every club he has managed. However, cracks are starting to appear in Guardiola's reign at the Etihad.
The 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League was Man City's fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions. This is also the first time in his coaching career that Guardiola has had to taste this feeling.
Brighton's win also marked City's first four-game losing streak since 2006, two years before the club was backed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan and Abu Dhabi's vast treasury.
Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton have all beaten the Citizens in the last 10 days, albeit in three different competitions. Surprisingly, just last season, Man City had just created a milestone of 4 consecutive Premier League titles. And now they have lost 4 games in a row.
Will Man City be eliminated from the title race this year and signal a decline? It is too early to say but it is inevitable, regardless of the sport. More than anyone else, Guardiola is feeling the uncertainty at the Etihad right now.
"Today at the press conference, I was asked if this is the end of an era. I know people want that. I've heard that for many, many years.
"What we have done in the last years, people have said it is difficult, but if someone wants to beat us, it will happen. Because in the next 50 years, we will not win all the Premier League titles. It is impossible" - Guardiola admitted after the defeat to Brighton.
Taken individually, the pitfalls facing Man City would not be enough to destabilise the team and raise questions about their resilience. But when they pile on top of each other, the pressure of each suddenly becomes too much to bear.
The off-field battle against 115 charges of breaching Premier League financial regulations has been a dark cloud over Man City for months, a dark cloud that has affected their ability to attract new players to the Etihad, despite their constant denials.
Why? Because no top player would risk signing for a club facing unprecedented financial penalties, which could include a huge points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League.
"When the players come back, I have no doubt we will be back to our best" - Guardiola still believes in Man City's resilience. But for the first time since arriving at the Etihad, and perhaps for the first time in his managerial career, Guardiola may be trying to console himself.
