Pep Guardiola insisted that he won't "give up" on Manchester City as he takes on the "biggest test" amid disastrous results.
The reigning Premier League champions are currently grappling with an alarming dip in form, leaving their hopes for Champions League qualification hanging by a thread. The team has managed to secure just five points from their last nine league games, a dismal run that places them alongside Leicester and bottom-dwellers Southampton in the league’s form table. This downturn has left the defending champions six points adrift of the Premier League’s top four, creating a sense of urgency as they approach the second half of the season.
To compound matters, Guardiola’s squad has been severely impacted by injuries and illnesses. Only three senior defenders are likely to be available for the Leicester match. Nathan Ake, who was substituted during Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Everton due to an injury, remains a doubt. Meanwhile, Kyle Walker has been battling a virus, and Ruben Dias, John Stones, and goalkeeper Ederson are all sidelined.
Despite the setbacks, Guardiola remains resolute in his mission to restore City’s fortunes.
“Yes, I will try. I will keep going," he told reporters. "Sometimes you think it will be earlier or easier to fix it, and others it takes more time. I will not give up. I want to be here, I want to do it and with the situation we have I have to do it.
“Now we go to Leicester, a place it has always been difficult to get good results, and with the players we have available that is what I will try.”
The current crisis represents an unprecedented challenge for Guardiola, who has enjoyed a glittering tenure at City since his arrival in 2016. The Spaniard acknowledged the magnitude of the task, describing it as "the biggest test" of his reign.
“The biggest test is to come back again – that has already happened, we have done that before,” he said.
“That makes you remember how good the past was, that’s the truth. This makes you realise how good it is what we have done in the past. Sometimes you have injuries. For how many years we were incredibly consistent but now, yes, expect a little bit down and the main reason is having so many important players injured. I saw the team spirit [against Everton], how we trained, how focused they are, how they try to practice. We saw that but unfortunately couldn’t get the result. Of course, I want it, everyone wants it. I don’t want to disappoint my people in terms of the club, the fans, the people who love this place.”
For Guardiola, the road ahead may be steep, but his determination to succeed remains unshaken. However, City’s faltering campaign has cast significant doubt on their ability to challenge for a top-four spot, let alone defend the Premier League title. Their recent draw against Everton did not help their cause and they will take to the field for their final match of 2024 on December 29, facing Leicester City in a bid to salvage their season.
