Man City stars told to 'stick your wellies on and get through the mud' as captain Kyle Walker explains rough patch after collapse against Brighton

Erling Haaland's early goal, which initially gave City a promising lead, was ultimately overturned by late strikes from Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley. It was City's fourth consecutive loss across all competitions and it was the first time that Pep Guardiola has lost so many games in a row in his managerial career.

City’s ongoing injury crisis has certainly been a contributing factor to their recent struggles. Key players, including Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Ruben Dias, were absent for the Brighton match. The depleted squad has left City vulnerable, and without their usual depth, the team has been unable to maintain its typically high standards.

“This is the time where I want to see the players and real characters come through,” Walker told Sky Sports urging the squad to push through a difficult period. “We were arriving at the ball a little bit late, but I think it’s the period we’re going through at the minute.”

With the team coming off an eight-year period filled with success, Walker suggests that setbacks are part of the journey and require immense resolve to overcome them.

“There are many reasons [for our dip in form]. How you’re feeling on a day-to-day basis," he said. "It’s been tough, but we’ve been fortunate over the past eight years to have a lot of success here. You have to show character. You have to stick your wellies on and get through the mud. It’s football and with the players and manager we have, with the club the fans, it will pass. We need to weather the storm and make sure after the international break we come back fit and ready to go for an important part of the season.”

Walker’s own performance in recent games has been under close scrutiny. In the Brighton match, he was struggling to contain Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma and a lapse in concentration in the second half saw him lose control of the ball under no immediate pressure, which frustrated Guardiola.

Nonetheless, City's recent defeats highlight a deeper malaise. The team suffered a 2-1 loss to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, which saw them eliminated from the tournament. In the Premier League, a shock defeat to Bournemouth, also by 2-1, raised more questions about the team’s form. Meanwhile, in the Champions League, a humbling 4-1 loss to Sporting CP forced Bernardo Silva to admit that they are in a "dark place".

With the international break offering a pause, City fans will hope to see a much-improved City side in their next fixture against Tottenham on November 23.