With Manchester City mired in a six-game winless slump — and facing one of their biggest challenges this season at Liverpool this afternoon — manager Pep Guardiola said the onus was on him to prove he can right the ship.
A loss at Anfield today would leave Guardiola’s men 11 points adrift of the leaders in the Premier League title race, but the Spaniard said he was thinking big picture rather than the potential ramifications of one game.
“Of course, I am thinking [about] what I can do to help them [the players] but in the long career as a player and a manager, you live these situations,” said Guardiola, who recently signed a two-year contract extension.
“When you live it ... accept it and challenge it. No complaining, no blaming, no pointing the finger or running from your responsibility. If you don’t win, you’re in trouble, I know that.
“The moment I feel I’m not positive for the club, another one [manager] will come, but I want the opportunity to try it, and I want to rebuild the team in many aspects from now on until the end of the season and the next seasons. I ask for that challenge and this opportunity to do it,” he continued, in an answer that stretched for nearly four minutes.
“I know what we need, what we have to do. We don’t have the consistency we had but which team during 10 years in the world has been consistent, tell me one. They don’t exist — not in the NBA, tennis or golf. It proves how we are as sportsmen and competitors. It is easiest when you have 10, 12 games in a row, and everyone is fit and in their prime. I have to prove myself now. I have to find a solution and a way to do it, and I am trying every day.”
I know what we need, what we have to do. We don’t have the consistency we had but which team during 10 years in the world has been consistent, tell me one
City have been stung by injuries to key players, but Guardiola kept his cards close to his chest about who might be fit to play today, saying: “We will see.”
A 4-0 rout by Tottenham Hotspur at The Etihad last weekend marked their third successive Premier League loss and a defeat at Anfield would be their first four-game losing streak in the top flight since 2007. It would also surpass their total number of losses from the whole 2023-24 season.
However, City fans can take comfort in the fact that their side have climbed back from deficits of eight points or more to win the league four times with Guardiola at the helm.
While a defeat today would make City’s title hopes “more difficult”, the Spaniard reiterated he was not thinking of trophies. “In the situation we’re in, it’s not realistic to think about big targets. The situation is to think about the next game and getting the momentum to continue and that will come back. We will be back, I know that. I don’t know when, that is the truth,” he said.
Meanwhile, Liverpool suffering a setback on Friday as central defender Ibrahima Konate confirmed suffered an injury, days before the Merseyside club’s Premier League home meeting with City.
The France international — who has been superb at the heart of a Liverpool defence that has conceded only eight Premier League goals in 12 games — appeared to hurt his knee in a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
According to reports in British media, the 25-year-old could be sidelined for five to six weeks.
Liverpool are also without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson, attacker Diogo Jota and left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas.
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