Pep Guardiola has admitted his Manchester City team have lost their fear factor.
And unless he can help them rediscover it quickly, they face missing out on Champions League football next year.
City's mini-ref was ended by Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday – and they will be tested again when top-four rivals Chelsea visit the Etihad on Saturday.
Guardiola has noticed how more teams are now ready to go toe to toe when they visit the home of the Prem Champs.
He said: “In the past, teams never marked the man. I remember everyone coming here to the Etihad and staying behind.
“The first team I saw was Neil Warnock at Cardiff. And after that, Gian Piero Gasperini with Atalanta.
“Now everyone does it, it doesn't matter to them.
“You have to adapt, do better with the ball, otherwise you won't qualify for the Champions League.
“Chelsea is not in it this year, Manchester United is not in it – it could happen to us.”
A victory over the blues of his old student Enzo Maresca would put the city back in the top four.
But they will be seriously tested next month when they take on Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham.
PEP added: “There's something I'm missing and I need to find out quickly.
“The players run a lot, but the other teams play better. They have more physicality and intensity, but all teams are better than us, for the age, for a lot of things.
“The hardest and fastest players we had decided to leave.”
City will have their new signings Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in the squad, but they are all likely to be on the bench.
Asked if there could be more new faces, Pep said: “Yes, maybe.”
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