Pep Guardiola reveals he told his Man City stars ‘to not feel sorry for ourselves’ during half-time team-talk while trailing 1-0 at Luton – with boss determined to prove doubters ‘wrong’ after their comeback 2-1 win

Manchester City’s stars were told not to feel sorry for themselves at half-time of Sunday’s victory at Luton Town that brought an end to the stickiest period of Pep Guardiola’s time in England.

The Premier League champions had already gone four matches without winning before Elijah Adebayo headed Luton into a shock lead on the stroke of half-time.

Guardiola went down the tunnel in deep conversation with Craig Pawson about the lack of additional time played in the first half. 

The City boss then felt his players had a sinking feeling inside the dressing room, with worries about ceding more ground in title race.

‘We have to demand more of ourselves,’ Guardiola said. ‘I said to them what are we going to do, feel sorry for ourselves? It’s football, it’s life.

The Spanish boss had seen his team go four games without a win before Sunday’s game 

Luton took the lead at Kenilworth Road through Elijah Adebayo before City turned it around 

‘If they score a second, are we going to complain again and say we were unlucky? Strikers: be more aggressive and score goals. Defend the crosses better in the last minutes and be positive.

‘It’s normal to say City aren’t the same and it’s over. That’s nice – let’s prove that wrong, (show) that we still want to be there and compete. They’re an extraordinary group of players.’

City are four points behind leaders Liverpool after Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa over the weekend, with Guardiola hunting history by securing a fourth straight title.

The match winner, Jack Grealish, added: ‘I think a lot of people like to talk about City and go on like it’s a big crisis, in reality we’ve played very good teams.’

Luton were left ‘proud but disappointed’ according to their boss, Rob Edwards, following a second consecutive hard luck story against sides with title aspirations.

Jack Grealish celebrates scoring the winner as Man City came from behind against Luton 

City scored twice in two minutes just after the hour, five days after Arsenal’s stoppage time winner snatching a drew away from the Hatters at Kenilworth Road.

‘I felt like it was there for us,’ Edwards said. ‘I had a really good feeling going into the game. We’ve complete respect for City but I just felt it.

‘We gave them a lot of problems for them to solve. We showed a lot of quality. In the cold light of day the lads can be proud of themselves. 

‘They’re flat and down in there. The players picked themselves up after Arsenal. They will take confidence and belief but they’re hurting right now.’