LONDON • So much has changed for Manchester City in the space of a week.
Two rounds of matches and two defeats later, a one-point gap has turned into a sizeable seven-point lead for Liverpool (51 points) over the Premier League champions.
And should City continue their downward spiral at revitalised Southampton on Sunday, their title defence could be over by the time they welcome the buoyant Reds to the Etihad Stadium next Thursday.
While it is not in Pep Guardiola's psyche to panic, even with his side faltering as the title race picks up pace at the halfway mark, the manager would have recognised the need to sharpen up fast.
He acknowledged that uncertainty had crept into the minds of his players after the 2-1 loss at Leicester on Wednesday, their third defeat in four league games.
He told Sky Sports: "The fact is we lost three in four, and the last two, and if you want to be real contenders, we have to win again.
"As soon as possible, we have to try to win again for our mood, our confidence and our desire. You have to be confident to play and to come back."
CITY'S WIN RATE WITH FERNANDINHO - 71.3%
WITHOUT FERNANDINHOÂ - 59.3%
The Spaniard admitted he had to "change the dynamic" in his team as Liverpool and Tottenham (45 points), who have leapfrogged City into second, were now "better than us at the moment".
He said: "You have to accept it, and it's important to accept where we are and they are improving.
"The reality is there are two or three teams better than us. We're not talking about whether we can get to (the level of) Liverpool, the issue is about winning another game, and thinking in ourselves about how we can improve."
While he still retains faith in "how exceptional the lads are in the locker room", he knows they face the greatest test of their character in the coming week.
"Good results make miracles in the mind. Now there will be doubts, and what you have to do is try to put in a good performance. But we are able to do that. I never doubt them. I don't forget who we are, how good we are," the City manager added.
However, he is also well aware his defence lacks a real shield in the absence of Fernandinho, who missed his second straight league game with knee trouble and remains a doubt this weekend.
City do not have a natural replacement for the Brazilian enforcer, which was why he was so desperate to land Jorginho, who eventually moved to Chelsea in the summer.
Without Fernandinho, their win percentage drops to 59.3 from 71.3.
Sky Sports pundit Steve Sidwell believes no other City player can perform the same role, although the former Fulham midfielder also felt the rest of the team were not pulling their weight.
He said: "Fernandinho does a lot of work there. But I think it's down to a lack of mentality that Pep Guardiola will not be happy about.
"Look at the results they've lost there, Crystal Palace and Leicester, and they'll be very disappointed with (the) Palace (loss) having been at home as well."
Another problem area for City is at left-back, where first-choice Benjamin Mendy is not expected to return from injury until at least February.
His replacement Fabian Delph was sent off at the King Power Stadium and he will miss the Saints and Reds games owing to a three-game ban. That leaves Oleksandr Zinchenko or Aymeric Laporte there and they are far from ideal options in that position.
However, Sidwell refused to rule City out of the title race despite their poor run, backing them to turn things around with "the quality they have got".
He added: "If there's one team, when you're top, who you don't want to be chasing you, then it's going to be this City team.
"The depth of squad they've got, they can go out and win games convincingly."
REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN, THE TIMES, LONDON
London: Andre Gray came off the bench to fire Watford into the FA Cup semi-finals with the late winner in their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday. Javi Gracia's side took the lead
Football: Super-sub Gray sends Watford into FA Cup semis
Breaking News. Metro Exodus is on the Xbox Game Pass for PC; Analyst: If Bitcoin (BTC) Breaks Below $7,500, a 10% Drop Would Be in Play; Soccer: Parris and White strike to give England victory over Scotland
Football: Parris and White strike to give England victory
sportstons.com/soccer/football-parris-and-white-strike-to-give-england-victory-over-scotland/
Football: Parris and White strike to give England victory over Scotland NICE (REUTERS) - England's Nikita Parris and Ellen White scored first-half goals as the Lionesses defeated neighbours Scotland 2-1 on Sunday (June 9) to make a strong start to their women's World Cup campaign.
Soccer: Parris and White strike to give England victory over
Football News -LONDON (AFP) - Mauricio Pochettino says Harry Kane is making a "fantastic" recovery and could be back in action ahead of schedule following the ankle injury he suffered last month
Kane making 'fantastic' recovery, says Spurs boss Pochettino
Napoli draw puts Juventus coronation on hold. By AFP: Monday, April 8th 2019 at 08:02 GMT +3 | Football The race for Champions League football next season remains tight with just Atalanta
Napoli draw puts Juventus coronation on hold - Khaleej Times
'World record holder at winning semi-finals' - Klopp laughs off 'unlucky' tag afp.com. 5 days ago. has around 50 more games in his legs with more experience in football."
'World record holder at winning semi-finals' - Klopp laughs
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/05/31/world-record-holder-at-winning-semi-finals-klopp-laughs-off-unlucky-tag/
'World record holder at winning semi-finals' - Klopp laughs off 'unlucky' tag AFP May 31, 2019 AFP No Comments Madrid (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp laughed off suggestions he is an unlucky manager as he looks to halt an unfortunate run of ending up on the losing side in his last six finals as a coach when he leads Liverpool into Saturday's
'World record holder at winning semi-finals' - Klopp laughs
Gini Wijnaldum has revealed what Liverpool have learned from their defeat at Manchester City earlier this month. The Reds were beaten 2-1 at the Etihad on January 3 in a dramatic encounter between
Klopp: Reds can make the next step | eir Sport
team/media watch/2019/april/man city news transfer gossip tottenham champions league kevin de bruyne raheem sterling
Pep Guardiola said he was proud of his Manchester City players and the Club's supporters after our Champions League quest ended in heart-breaking fashion at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hails players and supporters after agonising Champions League exit
What the papers said about Spurs' famous - football.london
Brunei aim to keep momentum going. Hendra Azam (shielding the ball from Albirex Niigata's Daniel Martens) is one of Brunei's long-serving locals. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE. Published.
Brunei aim to keep momentum going, Football News & Top
MADRID: Karim Benzema stopped Real Madrid's underwhelming La Liga season going from bad to worse on Sunday after firing a last-minute winner to hand the European champions a barely-deserved 3-2
Benzema saves Real Madrid blushes with late Huesca winner
Football: Lions will not hold back against Oman but must stay focused in defence, says coach Nazri Nasir
Lions have nothing to lose against Oman, says Nazri
Apr 18, 2019 · FIFA backs English players' social media boycott over racism. Soccer players in England are backing a 24-hour boycott of social media to demand a crackdown on racial abuse on the platforms
Football: Tampines Rovers sneak past Yangon United 4-3 to top AFC Cup Group F SINGAPORE - Tampines Rovers needed a three-goal salvo in the dying minutes in their last AFC Cup Group F match against Cambodia's Nagaworld FC to secure a 4-2 victory.
Tampines pip Yangon to top AFC Cup group, Football News & Top
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming live free
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch champions league simulcast live stream
tv soccer live stream sky
watch premier league live streaming online
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch soccer live stream links
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer live stream app
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch premier league games live stream
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch premier league live streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch english premier league live streaming free
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch champions league live streaming eng
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch english premier league live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming now free
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch the champions league live stream
watch soccer live streaming xbox
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming online free
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch soccer aid live stream
watch live stream soccer games online free
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch premier league live in stream
watch champions league live streaming now
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch premier league darts live stream
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch coppa america live streaming in india
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch usa soccer live stream
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live stream uk
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer games live stream free
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
#cristiano #crossfit #england #acmilan #afcnews #roadtrip #midnight #PartyTime #ignoranza #comico #soccer #jadwalbolahariini #oasisofficial #Celtic #championship #uefanationsleague #henderson #coys #mane #Liamgallagher #league1 #bayervshoffenheim #copaamerica #watchlive #footballmeme #footballfans #frasitrap #kopisusu #goodday #Bar #champion #hoffenhiem #thomasmeunier #realmadridcf #commentimemorabili #knuckleball #chocolatecoffee #manchestercity #livestreaming #cr7 #neymar #realmadrid #cappucino #bundesliga #BMW #vandijk #gooners #Liverpool #cristianoronaldo #footballschedule #footballdubai #adidasslipon #paulmcartney #livestreams #beatifulgame #Barcelona #battuteepiche #lionelmessi #golazo #visubal #livesports #rugby #manchestercity #streamingbolaid
0 comments:
Post a Comment