Pep Guardiola: I’ll be in trouble in Man City form doesn’t turn round

Pep Guardiola has said he could be ‘in trouble’ if Manchester City’s form doesn’t improve soon and implied he could even be sacked.

The Premier League champions are enduring a dire run of results and have not won any of their last six games in all competitions, while they’ve lost the last three in the Premier League. City have fallen eight points off top spot in recent weeks, are at risk of missing out on an automatic Champions League qualification spot and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup.

Next up is the challenge of Anfield, which could see City drop further behind in the title race, and although Guardiola played down the significance of the game, claiming that at the moment it is ‘not realistic’ to think about first place.

In a small rant from the Catalan, he added that, amid the current run of form, Guardiola feels that he has to prove himself again and wants the opportunity to fix things.

“In long careers, when you are nine, 10 years, 11 years, you live all the situations. Fortunately we live this situation rarely but I take it as normal. Of course I'm thinking, what can I do to the players to help them?

“We lost five games, drawn the last one when we should have won but it happens in football sometimes. A lot can happen and it's happened. Accept it and challenge it. No complaining, no blaming, no pointing. Don't run away from your responsibility. I have absolutely all on my shoulders. I have to and I want it.

“At this football club you have to win and if you don't win, you will be in trouble. I know the people say ‘why is Pep not in trouble, why is Pep not sacked?’. What we have done the last eight years is why I have this margin. The people rely on me, the hierarchy, the people. It is not normal in the big clubs to do the results we have. What's for sure I want to stay. I want to do it. But the moment I feel I am not positive for the club another one will come. It has to be.

But I want the opportunity to try. I don't want to run. I want to be there and rebuild the team in many aspects from now on until the end of the season and next season. I want to continue up there. I asked for that challenge and I asked for this opportunity to do it because I feel it.”

Asked if he has spoken to the club’s hierarchy in recent weeks, Guardiola said: “We talk since nine years here, not every day but after the games all the time and before sometimes. He gave me his opinion, I gave my opinion, Txiki [Begiristain] gave his opinion, the players give their opinion and afterwards we try to figure out and we try to move forward.

“He knows perfectly that we are not here because we are nice, and that we take these results. He knows that we are going to find a solution and for circumstances if that doesn't happen, the club will have to take the solution and the decision they have to take.”