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Pep Guardiola faces perhaps the biggest Test of his managerial career after a fifth straight defeat was compounded by a 4-0 loss to Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium. The run is the longest losing streak for City since 2006, while Guardiola has never experienced such a losing streak in his managerial career. However, despite the setbacks, the Spaniard stuck his chest out, expressing full trust in his boys. He restated their commitment to bounce back from these setbacks.
"I've never seen a player who wants to perform badly," said Guardiola. "When they are in front of 60,000 people, they want to give their best. It hurts, but I trust these players more than ever."
This defeat leaves Manchester City eight points adrift of the Premier League leaders Liverpool, adding to pressure ahead of their visit to Anfield next weekend. Before that, they face a crucial Champions League tie against Feyenoord on Tuesday. Pep Guardiola pinpointed the lack of injuries to key players like Rodri and Mateo Kovacic as being at the heart of City's softness at the back. Tottenham capitalized on this weakness with a Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski-focussed strategy which put city's full-backs under siege and tested their center-backs.
The manager further confessed, albeit that his side was not solid at present but was, overall, performing at high levels, that he had seen long spells of control in games. Against Spurs, Erling Haaland missed two early chances that could have changed the trajectory of the game. Guardiola further pointed out the need for some defenders such as John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake to regain their fitness to help shore up a leaky backline.
Guardiola promises turnaround
Yet even the great Pep Guardiola, renowned for his tactical flexibility, said he would find a solution to this adversity.
"When we started to lose I told people, 'We have to find a way,'" he said. "It's my duty to do it with the players we have available."
Manchester City will look to rebound against Liverpool, in a crucial matchup in terms of Premier League title aspirations. Guardiola's track record of resilience suggests City's current slump is a hurdle they can overcome, but the hill is steep.