Pep Guardiola has described his glorious reign as the Manchester City manager could be cut if the players do not respond to rallying cries to avoid a standard slip.
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Guardiola cited his stars’ lack of hunger and desire to play Arsenal at the top of the Premier League despite going 2-0 down to beat Tottenham 4-2 on Thursday.
The Catalan coach has overseen the most successful spell in the club’s history with four league titles in the past five seasons.
Guardiola even extended his contract at the Etihad until 2025 in November, but admits he has personal experience of successful flexibility as a player.
“I won four La Ligas in a row when I was a footballer,” said the former Barcelona midfielder.
“In the fifth (season) I wasn’t the same, in the sixth I wasn’t the same. I wasn’t hungry enough. I thought ‘How good am I’ and Madrid beat me five times and six times.
“I know (the challenge) but I’m here to do it. The chairman knows it. I want to be here, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.
“But if I lose the team or I lose something, I can’t be here. People here don’t wait.”
Arsenal lead by five points from Guardiola’s men and have a game in hand.
However, City can reduce the gap at the top to two points with victory over Wolves on Sunday before Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates.
City v Arsenal
City and Arsenal also have yet to face each other for the third time this season, the first of which is in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday.
And Guardiola hopes his public appeal will get the response he wants with half the league season still to play.
“We are second in the table, we are not 25 points behind Arsenal. There are still 57 points left to play. What I am saying is that playing this way, (there is) no chance. We have time to recover,” he said.
“Sorry to the haters, we’re going to be in the Premier League history books for what we’ve done – (it’s undeniable).
“For many things, it is consistency to play at a good level but that is in the past. Now the fans want the second half (against Tottenham) more often and that is what we have to find.
Two key players in Arsenal’s impressive start to the season are from City, but Guardiola insists he has no regrets selling Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to the Gunners.
“I always say that the players want to leave, they can’t stay. I want the best for Gabriel and Alex. Very good people, they help us a lot,” added Guardiola.
“Of course, Erling (Haaland) came and Julian (Alvarez) and it was difficult for Gabriel. It’s normal. It’s good, the players who are here like Raheem (Sterling), Alex, Gabriel, I always have great praise for what they have done when is here.
“It’s a good transfer for the club. We’re not in the position we are now because we don’t have Alex and the others.