Pep Guardiola promises 'I haven't lost the Man City dressing room' ahead of Man Utd clash

Pep Guardiola has resolutely rejected any notion that he has lost the Manchester City dressing room as he endures what is the most turbulent period of his managerial career.

Heading into the highly anticipated Manchester derby at the Etihad today with seven defeats in his last 10 games, Guardiola is experiencing an unforeseen slump.

It's a scenario that stands in stark contrast to his previous record at City, where it took him 105 matches to record a similar number of defeats.

Yet Guardiola's defiance shines through and he claims there is complete unity within his squad and staff ahead of their clash against arch-rivals Manchester United.

The Catalan coach promised to step down if he felt his players were turning a deaf ear to his advice: “The important thing is how we are inside.

“How do the players and the staff feel? There's one thing when I say 'Pep, you have to think about it', and that's when I lose the team. When I feel like they're not running. When everything everyone says the coach lost the team and they don't follow me.

“At that moment, not a minute more, I will be there. But at that moment, it is not there and more than ever I am there, there is no doubt.”

Guardiola also prepared the City faithful for further potential setbacks, saying: “In the past maybe we were going to last the whole season and losing seven didn't happen.

“But that's football, that's life. If you had told me a month ago, when we were top of the league and undefeated, we were going to lose seven of the next 10, I'd say 'you're crazy ?' This happens to my team.” But it happened and maybe we will lose more.”

Guardiola admitted Man City's hopes of securing a record fifth consecutive title were fading, despite the Reds dropping points against Fulham on Saturday.

He candidly remarked: “We have no defense, my friends. We lost too many games when this happened. All the criticism and judgment is deserved.”