Pep Guardiola is confident Manchester City’s recent blip “will pass” although he admits his side need to improve their focus if they are to end their losing run.
Saturday’s 4-0 hammering at home by Tottenham was City’s fifth successive defeat in all competitions – they are now eight points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool – and represents the worst run of Guardiola’s coaching career.
Next up is Feyenoord in the Champions League tomorrow night and Guardiola says they need to return to winning ways quickly.
He said: “We need to win one game. I want the players to perform well, in certain departments we need more focus. It will pass. It’s going to rain tomorrow, life goes on.
“What should I change? Impossible. The players have played a lot of minutes, we have players who are injured. It’s unusual.
“I think in this situation, we have to go direct to our principles, change less than ever. We create a lot of chances. We’re not winning the duels. We have to run backwards because our first centre-backs are not there. Rodri is not there.
“We normally play four central defenders, but we have injuries, we had to play [Ilkay] Gundogan, our best attacking midfielder, as a defensive midfielder because of injuries. We created enough chances [against Tottenham]. What do we have to do? Insist. If not Tuesday, next Sunday. If not, the next game. We keep trying.”
PEP 💬 We are big believers in the process and the fundamentals we have to do. All the players that have injuries come back in form. Get some rest, come back, get a result and change our belief… When we were winning I was thinking this too shall pass and now I am thinking this… pic.twitter.com/Fe9STKIVZu
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 25, 2024
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Ageing squad not to blame
Guardiola also dismissed suggestions the downturn in form was inevitable with an ageing squad that features several key players over 30 years of age.
“Nope, it depends on the performance,” he added. “There are players that are 23 that did not perform good. My analysis is we’re not getting results because we haven’t had many players. I would not say this is much different to a few months go. It always depends on the performance. I said I’m here but it depends on the performance, if I don’t perform I won’t be here.
“Tell me one team in the world that does not drop. I could never blame one player here. There’s a lot of minimal factors that are the reason. If it was one reason I would take it, but it’s not as simple. Right now, the most important thing is not tactics, it is to win a game on desire.
“Look at where we’ve come from. It’s so difficult to defend the success we have had, that’s why I’m so relaxed. That is why I want the commitment. Just being ourselves isn’t enough, we have to show commitment every day.”
De Bruyne future uncertain, admits Guardiola
City have missed the leadership and creative spark of Kevin De Bruyne this season with the Belgium playmaker making just nine appearances due to injury.
De Bruyne is out of contract in June and Guardiola concedes he is not certain what the future holds for the 33-year-old.
He said: “I don’t know. That is up to Kevin. Like David Silva, he will decide when is best for him and the team. He will not want to be in the position where he can’t play every three days. When he’s available, he has to play.
“He’s fighting to come back to his best. He’s not 26, 27, 28. When Kevin can train fully, he will give us something because he’s unique. It would make no sense to say the opposite.”
