“I won't give up, that's for sure,” Pep Guardiola said before his Manchester City side suffered their fourth straight defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion before the international break.
It was a tone rarely associated with the City boss since he arrived in English football in 2016, but this is new territory for him.
This run of four games is the longest period he has endured without a win in his managerial career – and it isn't going to get any easier.
City's fixture list in the Premier League is one of the toughest and couldn't come at a worse time as Guardiola's side continue to struggle with injuries and self-confidence.
The city's series of matches
A defeat to Tottenham sparked the hysteria as goals from Timo Werner and Pape Matar Sarr saw City crash out of the Carabao Cup.
They will now be tasked with addressing this slump against Ange Postecoglou's side, live on Sky Sports, once domestic action returns on November 23.
A blockbuster clash against league leaders Liverpool, also live on Sky Sports, will follow shortly afterwards and Guardiola will hope to have the likes of Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and John Stones back for that December 1 clash.
City next host Nottingham Forest, who have been one of the standout storylines in the early stages of the season given their impressive start, at the Etihad Stadium on December 4.
A trip to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace three days later (December 7) looks like the easiest match on paper, even if the Eagles have caused City problems in recent years.
This, of course, includes the shock 2-0 win away from home in 2021, which is likely to stick in the City boss's mind if his side need a win when the match rolls around.
Finally, they will end in dramatic fashion by hosting Ruben Amorim, who will have been in office for over a month on December 15, and Manchester United – live on Sky Sports.
Their rivals are an unknown entity at the moment, but the fear of losing the derby will only put more pressure on them to address their poor form before a match of this magnitude arises.
The importance of this run was laid bare
In terms of league position, City's run is only the eighth-toughest fixture list over the next five games.
However, this does not take into account the balance between the Champions League matches against Feyenoord (November 26) and Juventus (December 11), and also the extra pressure that will increase with each match.
Tottenham, Feyenoord and Liverpool are all of major importance to City and it is not out of the question that this losing streak extends to seven games before they face Forest.
Liverpool take on Southampton in their first match after the break and if they secure all three points and City lose their first game back, it would be the biggest points difference ever overcome by the Premier League champions after eleven games.
If that margin is expanded to eleven points after the confrontation with the Reds, the situation would become untenable.
Why are City struggling?
Injuries, injuries and injuries.
Winger Jeremy Doku has joined a growing list of key players currently sidelined.
Rodri is the biggest absence, but in Grealish, Stones, Dias and Oscar Bobb, Guardiola lacks the crucial depth he can call on from the bench.
Only Everton have made fewer substitutions so far than City's total of 35 this season, which could highlight why the squad is currently faltering given the lack of new legs.
Guardiola has increasingly come to rely on young talents such as 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who has started the last two games without his injured stars and may have to do so regularly in the future.
Replace Rodri
One player who won't be returning in the near future is Rodri.
“Now the seasons are getting longer and the [FIFA Club] The World Cup ends on July 13, I plan to return this year, as a challenge,” Rodri said during COPE.
“I've already started walking and I feel better than I thought.”
Despite the positive update, if City are to address their current issues they must find someone who can immediately fill the void left by Rodri in midfield.
Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan have been deployed in guard roles during the series of defeats and alternative candidates can now be considered.
Stones has previously been deployed in midfield and if he is fully fit, adding more protection to the back four could be a viable option.
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