Onus on Pep Guardiola to prove himself amid Man City’s winless slump

LONDON – With Manchester City mired in a six-game winless slump and facing one of their biggest challenges this season at Liverpool on Dec 1, manager Pep Guardiola said the onus was on him to prove he can right the ship.

A loss at Anfield would leave Guardiola’s men 11 points adrift of the leaders in the English Premier League title race, but the Spaniard insisted he was thinking big picture rather than the potential ramifications of one game.

“Of course, I am thinking 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 am not positive for the club, another one (manager) will come but 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 right now but which team during 10 years in the world has been consistent, tell me one. They don’t exist – not in NBA, tennis, 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 I am trying every day.”

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 against Liverpool, 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 of last season.

But 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 loss would make City’s title hopes “more difficult”, Guardiola reiterated that he was not thinking of trophies.

“In the situation we’re in, it’s not realistic to think about big targets. The situation is getting the momentum to continue and that will come back,” he said.

“It’s how many times you stand up when again and again you fall. We will be back, I know that.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot also believes that his counterpart will solve City’s problems.

“One of the reasons why I think Guardiola is the best manager in the world is that he always comes up with solutions for his problems,” the Dutchman said.

“His problem now might be that Rodrigo is out, but we all know that he will come up with a solution and the run of form will go again. Hopefully after Sunday.”

He was also asked if this was the ideal time to face City.

“I don’t think anyone in the last eight or nine years, or maybe even longer, would have said that City at home or away, the word easy never comes to my mind if I think about City. Not at all,” Slot added.

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has expressed his frustration after suffering a knee injury.

He picked up the issue in the dying seconds of the Reds’ 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid in midweek after a clash with striker Endrick.

“So frustrating to pick up this injury... but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again,” he said.

AFP, REUTERS