Pep Guardiola believes poor results could be the wake-up call his Manchester City side need. Photo: Reuters/Carl Recine
Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City could miss out on the Champions League if current difficulties do not give his team a much-needed shake-up after years of being purred over “like a cat”.
City picked up just three points. in their last four Premier League matches and Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa saw them drop to fourth in the table, six points behind leaders Arsenal.
This City's longest winless run since April 2017 during Guardiola's debut season at the club and the Catalan believes it could be just the wake-up call his players need ahead of a tricky trip to Luton on Sunday.
Liverpool have already dropped points against Luton this season and only Declan Rice's dramatic 97th-minute winner prevented Arsenal from doing the same at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday.
'A long time coming we lived like cats – how good we are,” Guardiola said, patting himself on the head to emphasize his point. “We need them [these results] to say: “Guys, this business is terrible, this is terrible.”
“You're unbeatable, and then, 'Oh my God, you can't win a single game.' Out of nothing. Perhaps, first of all, I need this challenge to prove to myself that I am a good manager. To help the players overcome this situation.”
Manchester City's form has deteriorated recently. recent weeks, picking up just three points – and no wins – from their last four games. Photo: Getty Images/Michael Regan
“It's a good challenge for the players to say, 'Oh my God, Aston Villa were so much better than all of us.' This is the only thing that can put it [the results] in the right place. Not [just] my words, it doesn't work.
“Say: 'Wow, Villa were better, so imagine the other [clubs]'.” The club, the whole organization [know] that we could be eliminated from the Champions League next season.”
He added: “We will have to work hard. We need this after what has happened in recent years. Let's understand as soon as possible and get out of here faster. Otherwise, nothing will change.
“The club needed this. A month ago I thought the club needed a shake-up. Bad results can help you live like this.
“I think it’s good for everyone [to live] the way we live [now]. I would say that I think it is necessary [for us] to live by this principle.”
All four of City's defeats this season, including in the League Cup to Newcastle, were due to Rodri's absence due to the suspension and defeat of Villa. I followed the draws with Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs.
But Guardiola, while not disputing the Spain midfielder's importance, said it would be too “simplistic” to attribute the struggles to the absence of one player.
The City manager, whose side have conceded 11 goals in five matches in the past all competitions – insisted that complacency was not the problem, but that players needed to take into account the “hunger of the competition” to dethrone champions and use it as a motivating factor.
“It's not about complacency,” said He. “Complacency is associated with being late to practice, doing poor quality work, [having] a 'no matter what happens' attitude.
“I'm only talking about bad results – look how difficult it is what we did and what will happen. Bad results help to understand this.
“Four games without a win could be five, six. It might happen. We create standards that people want to meet. I see hunger in my opponents. I see. To restore this [hunger], we will have to lose.
“The problem is that if you lose, you lose the competition. But it is necessary to live it. Realize that it is not my words and achievements that can help. It’s [the players] themselves on the field who say: “Oh my God, the opponents are much better.” After [we do this], take a step forward. It's the only way.”
“I'm really sorry about Calvin.” 
Calvin Phillips has not played a single minute for Manchester City. from 7 November Photo: PA/Nigel French
Despite the absence of Rodri, who will return to Luton, against Villa, Guardiola opted to start full-backs Rico Lewis and John Stones rather than Kalvin Phillips in the midfield.
The England midfielder is yet to start composition. He has played in the Premier League this season, something he has done only twice in total since signing from Leeds for £45 million 18 months ago.
Guardiola said he was “very sorry” for Phillips but admitted he was not “representing” the player in his squad in words that could increase the likelihood of him leaving in next month's transfer window. Newcastle and Juventus are among those interested.
“I don’t know what will happen [in January],” Guardiola said. “I am very sorry that I made the decision for his sake. He doesn't deserve [me] not to give him a minute.
“I'm asking for good character, good character. After that I should give him something – I didn't. Just because I'm visualizing something, I'm visualizing a command and everything, it's a little hard for me to see him [in it], that's all. It's not because I'm not happy. I feel so sorry for him.
“When a young guy behaves [badly], I don't care. I care about how he behaves with his teammates. I hope he can change, and I've said many times: I don't know what's going to happen in January. If he stays, I'm more than happy because he trains very well and is a great guy.
“It's a business, at the end of the day I have to act professionally. When I act… winning is a good decision, and when we don't win, it's a bad decision.”
Recent Comments