Pep Guardiola is expecting a backlash from Tottenham when they arrive at the Etihad this weekend in awful form.
Antonio Conte's side have blown the chance to seize the initiative in the race for the top four with successive defeats against Chelsea, Southampton, and Wolves in the league. They have three games in hand on fourth-placed United but are seven points off the last Champions League spot ahead of their trip to the Premier League champions.
City meanwhile have not lost in the league since October and have dropped just two points in their last 15 games, and beat Sporting 5-0 in midweek in the Champions League to continue their fine form.
Guardiola knows how good a manager Conte is though - his Chelsea beat the Blues to the league title in 2017 - and believes that it will be more difficult for his City team to win tomorrow because Tottenham will be so determined not to suffer another defeat.
"This is a problem [for us]," he said. "The fact that they’ve lost three times means they’ll be more difficult. It is difficult for top teams to lose four times in a row. They’ve a lot of quality up front, the process they do. Changing manager in middle of the season is not easy, they need time and football does not give time.
"This club did and I’m grateful but all managers need it to convince the players to follow them. All managers need time to try to convince the players to follow what you feel."
