Pep Guardiola attributes Man City's struggles this season to injuries (Image: Getty)
Pep Guardiola has categorically said he has no regrets over his decision to extend his stay at Manchester City, despite his team's recent slump, and blamed the gap to Liverpool solely on their injuries.
Since signing a new two-year contract during the international break last month, City have stumbled, recording just one win in six outings.
Yet Guardiola is brimming with determination to get through what constitutes the most difficult period of his illustrious 14-year managerial career.
“Absolutely not,” he said when asked if he had any regrets. “I would regret leaving now. I wouldn't be able to sleep, even worse than now, if I thought about leaving them in this situation. Impossible.
“They could fire me, it can happen, but leave now, no chance. If my boss Khaldoon is not happy with me, they can do it. But leave now in this position, no chance. No, no, no. “
Guardiola, who could complete an impressive 11-year spell at City if he completes his new contract, insists he will know when it is the right time to step down.
He does not feel obliged to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, which followed a record 20th Premier League title for Manchester United in 2013 after 27 years in charge.
“When I feel it’s time to leave, I will leave,” Guardiola said. “What we did, we did. The satisfaction of doing it is over.
“I have no goal to make my stay here any different, impossible. This is not me saying I will never leave until I win another Premier League or Champions League.
“It's accomplished, with the way we played, the numbers and everything. But now, in this situation, I couldn't leave.”
Guardiola is acutely aware of the pain his City side are feeling as they prepare to face United in the Manchester derby at the Etihad, having lost seven of their last 10 matches.
Pep Guardiola has no regrets about signing a new contract at the Etihad (Image: Getty)
He is determined to end their downward spiral and is convinced a turnaround is imminent – claiming City would be closer to Liverpool without the injuries and limited time between matches.
“We are not the best at the moment because we don't have the players,” he continued. “Otherwise we would be closer to Liverpool my friends.
“But now maybe we realize how difficult what we did was and of course we will come back. When we come back it will be, Wow! We won't forget this moment because we want to and we don't we can't do it.
“But I have to analyze the reasons a little bit. There are things I have to train, I have to train for the players to improve. I need to train, but when?
“Normally, when you play a match, the next day is recovery and they train, the players who didn't play the day before. But we have seven, eight, nine players absent.
Manchester City have suffered a lot from injuries this season (Image: Getty)
“We have made a lot of mistakes, but we don't have time. We have to practice. To be a writer you don't have to read books, you have to practice to write a novel, at least , unless you are William Shakespeare!
“After that, you don’t need anything.” Guardiola also expressed his frustration with City's match schedule, pointing out that their season could extend until mid-July if they qualify for the final of the new FIFA Club World Cup in the States -United.
“All managers depend on the quality of players,” he said. “We’re here to support them, but now because of the problems we’re having, it’s a crazy schedule.
“Rodri played 75 games last season. When he finished he was at the Euro to win with Spain. He got injured with Spain and came back here. He played one or two games, so do you think it was fresh for this year?
“I promise you, as strong as Rodri is, he came back tired, not at his best. The reason is the schedule. Give them a month and a half, two months of vacation. They will be perfect. After that, they can play 80 games if you want.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1988837/Pep-Guardiola-Liverpool-Man-City-news