Manchester City suffers shocking defeat to Bodo/Glimt
Pep Guardiola has conceded that Manchester City must “change the dynamic quick” following their stunning 3-1 loss to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Arctic on Tuesday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The Champions League defeat saw the defending Premier League champions suffer yet another setback, with midfielder Rodri dismissed during the match. City travelled to Norway already depleted by injuries, missing several key players for the fixture.
The result in Scandinavia adds to the mounting pressure on Guardiola’s squad, who have now endured a deeply disappointing run of form across all competitions. Their Premier League title aspirations have been significantly dented by a run of four matches without a win, including a dispiriting defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United. That outcome proved particularly damaging to morale.
Domestic troubles have now spilled over into European competition, leaving City’s Champions League campaign at a critical juncture. Their hopes of qualifying automatically for the last 16 now rest entirely on next week’s decisive league phase encounter with Galatasaray. A positive result against the Turkish giants has become essential if Guardiola’s side are to avoid the additional burden of a knockout playoff round.
Guardiola told reporters: “Everything has started to be, since the new year, against (us) in many, many things. I know how good a team Bodo are. I didn’t underestimate them. There is not much I know but they (reached the) semi-final last season of the Europa League and they were fresh in mind.” He acknowledged that City was lacking consistency due to key absences and noted their fragility at this stage of the season.
City’s only victories in 2026 have come in domestic cup ties against Exeter, of League One, and Newcastle. Yet they were without 11 senior players in Norway through either injury, illness, suspension, or ineligibility. Guardiola stated: “It was an incredible opportunity for us and the feeling is that everything (that can be) going wrong, is going (wrong) in many, many details. That is a fact and you have to try to change it.”
Rodri’s dismissal for two quick bookings after the hour ended hopes of a comeback. Guardiola refrained from criticising Rodri, recognising the challenges he has faced during a difficult comeback season following a serious knee injury last term.
In the midst of these struggles, Guardiola’s remarks reflect a deepening crisis that underscored the unpredictable nature of modern football. As City grapples with its recent woes, the upcoming fixtures will be crucial, both for squad confidence and for the manager’s future considerations.
