Bernardo Silva makes 'dark' admission after huge Man City defeat | OneFootball

Bernardo Silva has admitted that Manchester City are in a "dark place" after falling to a damaging 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the Champions League.

From the offset on Tuesday night, it looked as if Pep Guardiola's clash with incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim would be an easy affair - with England star Phil Foden finding the back of the net in the first four minutes.

However, fate quickly swung the other way when in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres netted his first of three goals just before the break.

Portuguese coach Amorim will undoubtedly arrive at Old Trafford with a spring in his step on Monday after beating his new team's fierce rivals, whereas Guardiola and City will return to the drawing board to fix the rut they currently find themselves in.

Guardiola's side were outsmarted by Sporting / Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

"It's disappointing because we're a bit in a dark place right now," City midfielder Silva told TNT Sports after the clash. "Even when we are playing well we don't score our chances and we concede too easily.

"We definitely need to look inside and check what we're not doing well. And we need to get better very quickly otherwise it will be very difficult to come back from these losses. It's football. It's difficult to find reasons for what is happening to us.

"I don't remember in seven-and-a-half seasons this team losing three games in a row. It just looks like this team is going the wrong way now."

Silva's worries come after a poor run of form for City - losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup before falling victim to a deserved Bournemouth win in the Premier League. The defeat in Portugal marked their third in a row, leaving them firmly behind Liverpool in both the league and the continental competition.

They will next face Brighton & Hove Albion away on Saturday, a fixture that could be tough for Guardiola's men due to the Seagulls' impressive run of form.