• Champions lost at Bournemouth after Carabao Cup exit
• ‘People expect us to win 38 games 5-0. It will not happen’

Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City must accept that their title defence will be a “struggle and this is fine”.

The champions’ 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth last Saturday followed their Carabao Cup elimination by Tottenham. Guardiola was asked if the consecutive reverses are merely a blip or a deeper concern.