Pep Guardiola is defiant that he will end Manchester City’s five-match losing sequence, with the manager stating it is “my responsibility” to do so.
Saturday’s 4-0 defeat by Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium was a third consecutive Premier League reverse, City also losing at Sporting in the Champions League and Ange Postecoglou’s side in the Carabao Cup during the run. Liverpool’s win at Southampton leaves City eight points behind the league leaders, who they play next weekend.
Guardiola said: “We don’t expect to lose important games many times but it has happened and we have to find a way. When we started to lose I said to people: ‘I have to find a way.’ I have to. It is my duty and responsibility to find a way to be more consistent, get better and win games. This is what we have to do.”
John Stones was replaced at half-time on Saturday and Rúben Dias is another centre-back who is injured, with Mateo Kovacic and Rodri the conspicuous midfield absentees. “Of course the presence from central defenders [will help] when they are all fit, from Rodri [out until next season] of course, Kova [short-term issue] with his pace of course. It is different from playing with other ones but you have to deal with this and these types of games – have more control.”
Erling Haaland has 15 goals in 16 appearances, but City’s next highest scorers are Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol with three. Guardiola was asked if Haaland needs more support regarding scoring. “Yeah, he’s the main target but Phil had two or three clear chances and Josko had one or two [against Spurs]. I’ll have to review the game,” the 53-year-old said. “I don’t think we weren’t creating enough chances. We created a lot of chances.
“Of course we want a lot of players to score but it’s happened,” Guardiola said. “When we score goals the momentum is there but at the moment we are not solid enough. That is the truth. Normally we are solid not conceding goals and now it is on both sides [attack and defence] we are not good enough.”
Guardiola signed a new two-year deal last week. He was asked if this time is needed for a rebuild. “When all the squad is there [fit] it is exceptional. I will not say a word that my team is not good … my team is not ready now – it is a little problem that we have in this period but the team is really good and at the end of the season or whenever we will take decisions on what to do.
“I trust these players more than ever. I’ve been here as a football player. You have doubts. You want to win. They are desperate to do well. They are not: ‘Hey, it doesn’t matter.’ I see them every day in training sessions how focused they are. In the locker room, in the warm-up and after the game, they feel it.”
Kyle Walker insists City have not lost confidence despite Saturday’s fifth consecutive defeat to Tottenham, saying victory against Feyenoord on Tuesday will recapture the champions’ “mojo”.
The captain said: “We’re going through a bad spell, but we will come out the end of it. We’ve got the characters and more than enough ability in there to do so. We won’t give up. We’ve all achieved a lot for this club…. It’s a new season and we need to go and fight for the Premier League again. We’ve got a game on Tuesday – we just need to get one win and hopefully we get our mojo back. Do I think we’ve lost confidence – no, I think it’s stupid for us to say that. We we just need to start winning again.”
The 34-year-old admitted confusion regarding the five-match losing run, the first time the champions have lost this many since Chelsea in 1956.
Walker said: “If we knew what we were doing wrong, we’d be giving you the answers out there and winning games. Obviously, we are trying – the lads are putting in everything. The injured lads are putting in everything to get back and to play in the team. Sometimes in football you need a little bit of luck, and we’ve probably not got that at the minute – that’s not us making excuses. We know we need to do better for this football club and for the respect of each other in the dressing room.
“It’s football. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves – we have to dig deep and look forward to the game on Tuesday. It’s just a period of football that we’ve not experienced in the eight seasons since I’ve been here. It’s time to show the character and we will keep fighting as we always have done – right until the end.”
