Pep back in City hot seat

– Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola returns to the touchline for the Premier League champions’ visit to Cardiff City today looking for his team to recover from a shock midweek home defeat to Lyon.

The City manager, serving a one-match Uefa suspension for being sent to the stands in last season’s quarterfinal defeat to Liverpool, watched in horror from the stands.

After accumulating 100 points in the Premier League last season, winning the Champions League for the first time in City’s history is the next goal for Guardiola.

Yet, an unexpected defeat to begin their European campaign exposed City’s failure to add reinforcements to arguably the only area of the pitch where they lack genuine strength in depth.

Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has been inspirational for City but he was at fault in the build-up to both Lyon goals.

City spent a club record fee on signing Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez from Leicester for £60 million.

Mahrez has started just two league games so far and not yet completed a full 90 minutes for Guardiola.

Cardiff are still looking for their first victory. –

Manchester