Pep Guardiola cast doubt over his ability to turn Manchester City’s ailing fortunes around after an astonishing eighth defeat in 11 games.
The 53-year-old, who signed a contract extension last month, bemoaned another defensive capitulation after handing Manchester United an unlikely derby victory in 116 calamitous second-half seconds at the Etihad.
Guardiola accepted culpability for the dismal run of form, saying: ‘I’m the boss, I’m the manager and I’m not good enough. It’s as simple as that. I don’t have a defence. I’m the boss, I don’t find a solution, to find a way to talk to them.
‘This is a big club and when you lose eight something is wrong. You are 3-0 against Feyenoord and draw… you think it’s because of the injuries? No.
‘Football is about emotion. We’re more anxious with and without the ball. The worst thing is not to have composure and calm. What does it give you? Momentum and confidence. I said many times, relax.
‘I’m not good enough to let the players feel it. I want it desperately.’ City have won just once in their last 11 matches in all competitions – defeating Nottingham Forest – and have lost eight games in that run.
‘This year it happens many times unfortunately. We gave away many things,’ Guardiola added to Sky Sports.
‘It is what it is. What can I say? We can not blame this player or that one, it’s not that. It’s the season, a tough season.
‘We didn’t play our best. We are not our best and we struggle a bit.
‘I think in nine years it wasn’t the toughest defeat. Champions League defeats harder. But at the moment, we need results to lift our mood.
‘It’s getting worse and worse. I have to find the solution. So far I didn’t find it and this is the truth. We have to do better individually and collectively because it’s not the standards of Manchester City.’
And City’s rebuild will not be a quick fix. With every performance, every defeat, the scale of what lies in front of Guardiola becomes more obvious – and daunting.
Manchester City’s fans did their best to reassure Guardiola of their faith in him with a giant Barcelona-inspired banner draped from the stands before kick-off emblazoned with his image reading “Més que un entrenador” – “More Than A Coach”.
Credit: bbc.com
