BODØ, Norway (AFP) — Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City need to “change the dynamic” after their 3-1 defeat against Norway’s Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Guardiola’s side were blown away by Kasper Hogh’s first-half brace and a second-half strike from Jens Petter Hauge at the ecstatic Aspmyra Stadion.

Rayan Cherki got one back moments after Hauge’s goal but Rodri’s dismissal for two bookings left City in tatters as Bodø/Glimt celebrated their first-ever win in the Champions League group phase.

Bodø’s entire population of only 55,000 people could almost fit into City’s Etihad Stadium.

But Kjetil Knutsen’s underdogs ignored the huge financial and talent gulf between the clubs to inflict a chastening defeat on the English Premier League (EPL) giants.

City’s bid to secure an automatic place in the last 16 hinges on their final group phase game at home to Galatasaray next week.

The 2023 European champions, who failed to lift a trophy last season, are also without a win in their last four EPL matches, with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United leaving them seven points behind leaders Arsenal.

Guardiola struck a despairing tone as he discussed the reasons for City’s slump.

“Everything has started to be, since the new year, against us in many, many things,” he said. “I know how good a team Bodø 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.

“We arrived in some departments without important players who give consistency to the team. They are a little bit fragile, as they were last season in a certain period.

“How they fought 10 against 11, a lot of players made a step up, but we have to change the dynamic quick for the next game against Wolves and after that, the last game against Galatasaray.”

City’s only victories in 2026 have come against third-tier Exeter in the FA Cup and Newcastle in the League Cup semi-final first leg.

Guardiola was without 11 senior players in Norway through either injury, illness, suspension or ineligibility.

Claiming those circumstances had made it hard for City to play with their usual verve, Guardiola said, “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.”

Guardiola laughed off a suggestion that his team was not sufficiently prepared to cope with Bodø/Glimt’s relentless pressing.

“I do not agree,” he said. “Bodø were really good, and we congratulate them. We cannot say anything else.”

Guardiola refused to criticise Spain midfielder Rodri for his red card, which was triggered by two bookings in quick succession.

It has been a struggle for Rodri in a difficult comeback season to date, after he missed most of last season with a serious knee injury.

“It was a difficult situation. We lost the ball, we made a transition, but they are fast and sometimes you react,” he said. “It’s little bit soft, the second one, but it is what it is.”

Tuesday’s results

Kairat Almaty 1, Club Brugge 4

Bodø/Glimt 3, Man City 1

Copenhagen 1, Napoli 1

Inter 1, Arsenal 3

Olympiacos 2, Leverkusen 0

Real Madrid 6, Monaco 1

Sporting CP 2, PSG 1

Tottenham 2, Dortmund 0

Villarreal 1, Ajax 2

Wednesday’s games

Galatasaray vs Atletico Madrid @ 12:45 pm

Qarabag vs Frankfurt @ 12:45 pm

Atalanta vs Athletic Club @ 3:00 pm

Bayern Munich vs Union Saint-Gilloise @ 3:00 pm

Chelsea vs Pafos @ 3:00 pm

Juventus vs Benfica @ 3:00 pm

Marseille vs Liverpool @ 3:00 pm

Newcastle vs PSV Eindhoven @ 3:00 pm

Slavia Prague vs Barcelona @ 3:00 pm

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres (left) shoots past Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi and scores his team’s third goal during their UEFA Champions League match at San Siro in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday. (Photo: AFP)