Pep Guardiola is questioning himself amid Manchester City's poor form as he disagreed with Ilkay Gundogan's criticism of their performance against Juventus.
City are at risk of missing out on a Champions League play-off place after being defeated 2-0 in Turin on Wednesday, a result that puts them in 22nd place out of 36 teams.
City have now lost seven of their last ten games in all competitions (one win, two draws), as many defeats as in the previous 105.
Since the start of November, they have conceded more goals in all competitions than any other team from Europe's top five leagues (21 in nine games).
After a 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP and a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, Guardiola has failed to win three consecutive Champions League group matches for the first time in his managerial career, with 2014-15 being the last time City did this was going through. a longer run (four without winning).
Guardiola admits he has doubts about his own methods but insists City played well enough to warrant a result in Italy. He said: “Of course I doubt myself, but I am stable in good and bad moments.
“I'm trying to find a way to do it. I'm incredibly honest. When we play well, I say we played well and today I thought we played well.”
21 – Since the start of November, Manchester City have conceded more goals in all competitions than any other team from Europe's top five leagues (21 in nine games). Hitch. pic.twitter.com/fAtI2enYq2
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 11, 2024
After the match, midfielder Gundogan told TNT Sports that City were “careless” in duels and conceded too many dangerous attacks.
But with City having 68.9% of the ball against Juventus and the Bianconeri's possession numbers more than doubling (34 to 13) and finishing thirds (59 to 24), Guardiola remains pleased with many aspects of their performance.
“I don't agree with Ilkay,” Guardiola said. “Of course it is tough, but apart from one or two games in this period we have played well.
“Our play will save us. We can do it. We have had few chances compared to the game we won in Nottingham Forest. We are moving at the right pace.
“We missed the last pass, didn't get into the six-yard area and didn't have the composure at the right time.
“But I love my team. This is life, it happens. Sometimes you have a bad patch, but I'll keep pushing until we get there.”
Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge will be City's final two opponents in the first phase of the Champions League as they visit France on January 22 before hosting the Belgians a week later.
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