Manchester City head into Wednesday's home encounter with Nottingham Forest knowing that anything other than a win could see them fall 14 points behind leaders Liverpool by the end of the night.
Man City's run of four consecutive Premier League losses, and seven matches without a win in all competitions, has been well-documented, as has the fact it is the worst sequence of Pep Guardiola's managerial career.
City could end Matchweek 14 as low as eighth in the table.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
14 | +18 | 35 |
| 2 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
14 | +16 | 28 |
| 3 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
14 | +13 | 28 |
| 4 |
Man City
MCI
|
14 | +6 | 26 |
| 5 |
Brighton
BHA
|
13 | +5 | 23 |
| 6 |
Aston Villa
AVL
|
14 | 0 | 22 |
| 7 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
14 | 0 | 22 |
| 8 |
Spurs
TOT
|
13 | +14 | 20 |
Ahead of Wednesday's match, Guardiola said: “They [his players] want it - I know they want it every single day – I don’t have any doubts, but we are not getting results, and we have to get results, and this is the reality.
“They are not going to come to me saying ‘I don’t believe anymore; I don’t believe what we have done’. That doesn’t happen and it will not happen.
“I want to help them find the way to be consistent and win games - this is what we have to do and what is going to happen, is going to happen. Otherwise I would not decide or still be there with the players for longer.
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“I had in my head my destiny that I wanted to extend [my contract] because I believe I want to continue to do that,. But of course, the results [are key] - all the managers who are in this situation know and for me, it’s the first time in my career, but what can I do?
“I have to accept it like a challenge, prove to myself that we can help them. The players know it. I want to be here. If they want me, fine. We have to fight.”
Guardiola on comparisons to Mourinho
In Man City's latest loss, a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool that left them 11 points off top spot, Guardiola raised six fingers in response to Liverpool fans singing, "You're getting sacked in the morning" - indicating the number of Premier League titles that he has won.
His gesture drew comparisons with Jose Mourinho, who did a similar gesture in 2018/19 when manager of Manchester United. It was suggested by some journalists to be the start of Mourinho's downfall, eventually leaving a couple months later.
"I hope not in my case," Guardiola said. "Maybe we are quite similar. But he won three, I won six.
"But we are together in the those situations... Sooner or later, it's going to end.
“It [the gesture] was just to make our fans feel that what we have done is extraordinary. I want to prove that we are an incredible football club. Sooner or later it’s going to be the end but I will try to extend as much as possible for the best of my club.”
Asked if he lost his cool with his gesture, he replied: “I was never cool. I was only cool because we won. When you don’t win, it’s completely the opposite.”
Pep: De Bruyne not in his prime
Much has been made of the ongoing absence of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri in City's midfield this season, but the defending champions have also had to contend without the quality of Kevin De Bruyne.
The playmaker has been restricted to only seven top flight appearances this season, and has not featured in any of Guardiola’s starting XIs since returning from injury last month.
Man City could turn to their Belgian star against Forest tonight, although Guardiola insists that he is having to manage De Bruyne's match minutes carefully.
“I spoke in the last month when people ask why I don’t play Kevin?" said Guardiola.
“You don’t think I’d like to play him? You think I don’t want Kevin to play? The guy has the most talent in the final third and I don’t want him to play?
“He delivered the best success. He needs time to return to his best. Try to do it and I’m desperate to have him at his best.
"I’d love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27. He would love it too. But he is not 26 or 27 any more.
"He had injuries in the past, important and long ones, and he is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.
"It’s normal, it’s nature. He played a lot of games for 10 or 11 seasons. I know he is desperate to help us, he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.
“Last season Kevin, and the goals and assists from Jeremy [Doku], Phil [Foden], Jack [Grealish] as well as Savinho or Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan] this season. Just five goals or assists from each of these five guys and we’d be top of the league, but they were not here, they were injured and not ready.
“I have to find my way through the problems and I have, and clear our heads to win games.”
