‘In eight years we never lived like this’ – Guardiola shocked by City drop-off

Pep Guardiola admits he is surprised by Manchester City's alarming decline in form, saying: “In eight years we have never lived like this”.

Guardiola is in the middle of the longest losing spell of his managerial career. City suffered their fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions on Saturday when they defeated Tottenham 4-0.

They have also lost three Premier League games in a row and could end the weekend eight points behind leaders Liverpool, who visit bottom club Southampton on Sunday.

It is their worst run in the league since losing three in a row between February and March 2016, when they finished fourth under Manuel Pellegrini.

“In eight years we have never experienced this. I knew sooner or later we would fall,” Guardiola said after Saturday's match.

“I never expected to lose three Premier League games in a row, but we have been incredibly consistent time and time again.

“Now we cannot deny the reality that sometimes happens in football and life here.”

City's decline coincided with star midfielder Rodri – who won the Ballon d'Or last month – sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Guardiola's team did not lose any of the 34 Premier League matches in which Rodri played last season. He won 27 and drew seven, although they lost three of four in the Spaniard's absence.

Each of City's last six defeats in the league have come when Rodri has not featured, but former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes their poor run is not entirely down to his injury.

“We've seen City lose the odd game here but we've rarely seen them outplayed in any department but that's what we're looking at,” pundit Neville told Sky Sports.

“They look very short. As short as I've seen them since Pep's first season. I haven't seen them as bad as this, as they have been in recent weeks.”

“He will have wanted that international breakthrough to come, thinking it would be a reset moment. But now that it is here it further entrenches the view that this is a City side that is currently in decline.

“This is more than just Rodri, much more.”