Mueez Ajao
– Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is not pushing the panic button despite his team’s recent poor form.
– City take on Tottenham at the Etihad stadium on Thursday looking for a win to cut the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points.
– Saturday’s 2-1 derby loss at Manchester United, which followed their defeat against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, left Guardiola’s side eight points behind the Gunners.
Also Read: Guardiola reacts to Rashford’s influence in controversial Fernandes
– “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, meanwhile, said he has already put Saturday’s VAR controversy behind him and had told the players to do so as well.
– In Manchester United’s 2-1-win — Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser was allowed to stand despite the linesman’s flag originally going up to rule it out due to Marcus Rashford being offside when Casemiro played his through ball.
– Despite complaints by City players, the goal was allowed to stand with Rashford not deemed to be interfering with play.
– “It’s in the past, nothing’s going to change,” Guardiola said. “Our focus is on Tottenham. That was my message to the team in the changing room after the game.”
– 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.
