Pep Guardiola: Manchester City needed a reality check

Manager says winless run has given the club the 'shake' it required

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have gone four games without a win. Getty Images

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes the club’s recent slump has delivered a much-needed reality check.

Guardiola says he and his treble-winning players have enjoyed being stroked “like a cat” for too long after their recent successes and it was time they were given a shake.

City were not only beaten but outplayed at Aston Villa on Wednesday – a result which extended their winless run in the Premier League to four games and saw them slip to fourth in the table.

“As a manager I sometimes need that, I need that challenge,” said Guardiola at a press conference to preview Sunday’s game at Luton.

“I think for everyone it is good. I think it’s necessary to live that.

“For a long time, we’ve lived like a cat (strokes head) and (known) how good we are.

“We need it to say: ‘Guys this business – it’s terrible’. You are unbeatable and then, oh my God, you cannot win one game – from nothing.

“Maybe for myself first, I need that challenge to prove myself, that I’m a good manager, to help the players overcome that situation.

“For the players it’s a good challenge to say: ‘Aston Villa were miles better than all of us, so imagine the other ones’.

“The club, all the organisation, (know) we can be out of the Champions League next season, so we have to work hard. As soon as we realise (it) we come out of here quicker.

“The club needed it. One month ago I thought the club needed a shake, to be shaken. The bad results can help you to live that.”

Guardiola, however, was quick to dismiss suggestions of complacency within his squad, insisting standards remain high.

He said: “It’s not about complacency. Complacency is arriving late to training, not training good, not doing a good job, it not mattering what happens.

“I’m talking just about bad results. Bad results help you to understand. When you lose games, it is necessary. It’s necessary to live that.

“After, (you) make a step forward. It’s the only way.”

City will have influential midfielder Rodri back at Kenilworth Road after he completed his latest ban. The Spaniard has now missed four games through suspension this season and Guardiola’s side have lost them all.

Kevin De Bruyne hasn't played since being injured against Burnley in the opening game of the season but has been registered for this month's Club World Cup. Getty Images

Guardiola again overlooked the credentials of Kalvin Phillips when selecting his side at Villa Park, fuelling further speculation the England midfielder could leave the club in January.

Phillips has failed to establish himself at the Etihad Stadium since his move from Leeds in the summer of 2022.

Guardiola said: “I don’t know what will happen. I feel so sorry for my decisions for him. He doesn’t deserve for one second not to have minutes but it’s just that I visualise things and struggle a little to see him.”

Kevin De Bruyne, who has been out since undergoing hamstring surgery in August, has been named in City’s squad for the Club World Cup later this month but it is not yet clear if he will be fit to play.

Guardiola said: “Maybe it is a little bit early, but I don’t know.”

Man City v Tottenham - player ratings

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  MAN CITY RATINGS: Reclaimed his spot in goal after being rested in midweek, but Ederson might feel he could have done better to keep out Son’s first goal. Stood no chance against Kulusevski’s header into the top corner. Getty

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  Reliable when Spurs opted to play on the break. Gil stood no chance when matched against the pacy right-back, but Walker met his match up against Johnson for Spurs’ third. Reuters

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  Often the last line of defence for City, Dias crucially cleared Johnson’s dangerous ball into the box after Gvardiol was beaten. EPA

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  Preferred to Ake at left-back, Gvardiol found the pace of Spurs’ frontline a problem. Booked. Getty

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  Picked up his fifth yellow card, which will see him suspended against Aston Villa, and leave Pep Guardiola with plenty of decisions. Narrowly missed an opportunity to restore City’s lead after his chipped effort went just wide. Getty

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  Will be the centre of debates surrounding a penalty appeal in stoppage time when he appeared to be pushed by Skipp. AP

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  Moved deeper into midfield as City came under pressure. He released Doku when he could have shot, and was rewarded moments later when he found space in the box to slot home City’s second. AFP

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  Productive and intuitive, the Argentine found space to receive the ball and slip it through to Foden to net City’s second. He also came close to scoring himself. AP

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  Should have added an assist to his name when he squared the ball to Haaland, but the Norwegian could only shoot narrowly wide. Forced a brilliant save from the out-stretched Vicario after half-time. AP

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  Energetic on the wing, Doku caused problems for Porro and was only denied by the woodwork when he got the better of Davies. Limped off in the second half. PA

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  Missed an open goal early on and should have put City out of sight before half-time, but despite failing to net, he still managed to add an assist. AP

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  SUBS: (Doku 52’) – Converted from close range to restore City’s lead but will miss City’s visit to his former club Aston Villa after picking up a needless fifth yellow card of the season. AFP

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  (Foden 73’) – Immediately involved in the action, playing a neat link-up with Rodri, who could only chip his effort over. AFP

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  (Gvardiol 86’) – Beaten in the air by Kulusevski for Spurs’ third. AFP

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  (Alvarez 86’) – Came on as City tried to hang on for the win. Reuters

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  TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Straight into the action, Vicario had to keep a calm head as City pressured the Spurs goalkeeper. He could do little about Son’s deflected own goal and he was left exposed for City’s second. Pulled off a brilliant full-stretch save right after half-time after giving the ball away cheaply. Reuters

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  Struggled to deal with Doku on the wing, Porro also looked a mismatch against Haaland for City’s equaliser. Booked. Getty

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  Very fortunate to see Haaland miss an open goal after he was dispossessed in a dangerous area after playing the ball at the back. Looked shaky every time he touched the ball. Reuters

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  Left isolated at the back for City’s second, whilst he could only back off from the weaving Doku, allowing him to hit the woodwork. Won a vital header in the run-up to Spurs’ second goal. Reuters

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  Struggled in the first half to deal with City but much brighter in the second half as Spurs gained some composure, looking for opportunities in the box. Booked. AFP

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  A deserved start for Lo Celso after his goal against Aston Villa and despite offering very little, scored his second goal in two games, beating Ederson with a low shot. Getty

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  A disaster for Bissouma, who’d returned to Spurs’ starting XI from suspension, as he was punished for dithering in City’s half for Grealish’s goal. AFP

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  The pacy winger caused problems on the ball for Gvardiol but lacked any real power with an effort in the second half. He later delivered an inch-perfect cross for Kulusevski to score the equaliser. AFP

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  Played a key role in Spurs’ opening goal with a superb ball to find Son. Proved his determination during the closing stages, beating Ake in the air to score Spurs’ third. AP

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  Brilliant in the build up to Spurs’ first goal, Gil’s neat turn was the catalyst in creating the move, laying the ball off to Kulusevski who then found Son. Saw his afternoon cut short by an early tactical switch. Getty

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  A mixed afternoon for the South Korean, who netted Spurs’ first goal having been found by Kulusevski and beating Doku for speed. He was then unlucky to score an own goal and concede City’s equaliser. PA

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  (Gil 46’) - Brought a sense of composure to Spurs’ midfield and made his presence felt with two early fouls on Haaland. Reuters

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  (Lo Celso 79’) – Will be breathing a sigh of relief as City appealed for a penalty in the closing stages for a push on Akanji. Reuters

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  (Bissouma 88’) – A surprise return to the bench from injury; Jamie Donley (Johnson 90+6’) Late change in stoppage time. PA