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The Manchester City boss has reflected on the club’s form and has stopped short of criticising his star striker.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the club's current crisis, describing it as a sobering reality check and a reminder to appreciate their past successes.
City's recent slump has seen them win just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions, a stark contrast to their dominant form in recent years.
The Premier League defending champions have won just one of their last five top-flight matches — a 3-0 win over high-flying Nottingham Forest — but a four-match winless run (two defeats) leaves them 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have an outstanding game.
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What Guardiola said
Guardiola, who recently signed a new contract until 2027, remains determined to turn things around at City, expressing his commitment to the club and its fans, emphasising his desire to return the team to its winning ways.
The City manager attributed some of the team's struggles to injuries to key players but praised their spirit and focus in training.
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“I don’t want to disappoint my people in terms of the club, the fans, the people who love this place,” said Guardiola. “It’s not just now, it’s since I arrived [in football] as a player and then a manager. I think all of us in our job want to do it well and to please the people.
“The biggest test now is to come back again – that has already happened - we have done that before.
“Sometimes you have injuries. For many years we were incredibly consistent but now, yes, we are a little bit down and the main reason is having so many important players injured.
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Guardiola refused to blame individuals, such as striker Erling Haaland, for the recent dip in form, instead focusing on the collective responsibility to improve.
“I don’t have it in my education to start complaining, to point at people,” said Guardiola. “It’s happened it’s life, it’s football, so let’s try it again.
“That’s why all the time we have had success, because always it is never enough. We will try it again and again and again. That’s why we won a lot of titles.”
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What next for Man City?
Guardiola’s side return to Premier League action on Sunday, December 29, against Leicester City.
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