Pep Guardiola has admitted he is struggling to find a solution to Manchester City's recent woes, insisting the responsibility for their dramatic loss of form lies squarely with him. The City manager says he has been unable to lift his players during a run that has seen them plummet from leaders to a side fighting for consistency.
City host West Ham on Saturday looking to secure the rarity of back-to-back wins. Sunday's 2-0 victory over Leicester City was only their second in 14 matches, a remarkable decline for a team that had won four successive Premier League titles. Guardiola hopes the result marks a turning point, but he remains cautious.
Speaking ahead of the West Ham match, Guardiola said: "The call is on me first. I'm unbelievably honest with myself. I know the reason why we arrive and the main, main reason, it is me. Not the players." He acknowledged that players naturally experience dips in form, but added: "With this consistency of results I should have found it and it didn't happen and that is why we're in this position."
He reflected on the team's earlier success this season, noting they were the only unbeaten team in Europe and top of the league before a sudden downturn. "For injuries, many things we've talked about. But even with that, I should have found a way to get better results," he said. The Leicester win was important for belief and composure, he added, but "one result is not going to change my perspective on how the team is right now."
Meanwhile, influential midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 33, is now free to speak to clubs abroad about a summer move as his contract enters its final months. Guardiola said it was not his business whether the Belgian extends his stay, stating: "The club has to think about it." He acknowledged De Bruyne's recent injury and fitness problems but described him as "a really important player for us" when fit and playing regularly.
