Pep Guardiola claims his side is not under any pressure but insists they have to win the next game after they drop eight points behind league leader.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has stated that the Etihad club are not under any form of pressure after the suffered defeat to Manchester United in the derby.
City will host Tottenham Hotspurs, a team that suffered 2-0 to their rival Arsenal in the weekend of the Premier League.
Speaking ahead of their game against Spurs the Spaniard said they have always been n this position but they he has never relaxed even when he leads the league with 8 points.
“We have been in this position many times in the past, many, many times,” Guardiola said in Wednesday’s news conference. “I’m never relaxed even when we are eight points ahead.
“The pressure is the next game. We have to win the next game.”
City have not lost three competitive games since April 2018. They have won one and lost four of their previous five Premier League games against Tottenham.
“The only important thing is the next game,” Guardiola said. “You can drop points when you are ahead but when you are behind, you can’t afford to lose points.”
City have created just one scoring opportunity in the last two games.
“We have to improve our game, control what we can control,” he said. “That is what big teams have to do. I have to find a solution.
“Sometimes our fluidity hasn’t been as good as usual. We need to spread the defensive line. We have struggled in the last two games.”
Guardiola said his club’s recent dip is not down to the wrong mentality of the players.
“No, not at all with this group of players,” he said.
Guardiola confirmed Kevin de Bruyne is available for Thursday’s game after he missed Tuesday’s training session for personal reasons.
The Belgium midfielder has scored three goals and set up 16 others in 25 appearances in all competitions this season.
Defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones are also available for City after recovering from respective injuries.
