Pep Guardiola cast doubt over his ability to turn Manchester City’s ailing fortunes around after an astonishing eighth defeat in 11 games.
The 53-year-old, who signed a contract extension last month, bemoaned another defensive capitulation after handing Manchester United an unlikely derby victory in 116 calamitous second-half seconds at the Etihad.
Guardiola accepted culpability for the dismal run of form, saying: ‘I’m the boss, I’m the manager and I’m not good enough. It’s as simple as that. I don’t have a defence. I’m the boss, I don’t find a solution, to find a way to talk to them.
‘This is a big club and when you lose eight something is wrong. You are 3-0 against Feyenoord and draw… you think it’s because of the injuries? No.
‘Football is about emotion. We’re more anxious with and without the ball. The worst thing is not to have composure and calm. What does it give you? Momentum and confidence. I said many times, relax.
‘I’m not good enough to let the players feel it. I want it desperately.’
Pep Guardiola turned the criticism in on himself after Man City’s eighth defeat in last 11 games
Bruno Fernandes scored an 88th-minute penalty to equalise for Manchester United
It went from bad to worse for Manchester City when Amad Diallo scored a last-minute winner
City have won just once in their last 11 matches in all competitions – defeating Nottingham Forest – and have lost eight games in that run.
‘This year it happens many times unfortunately. We gave away many things,’ Guardiola added to Sky Sports.
‘We are not nice in the way we played. Before it’s so fluid, now we’re struggling for different reasons. A lot of defeats.
‘We put everything in and the game was almost closed. They had more possession first half but nothing special. We give away two goals, very difficult.
‘It is what it is. What can I say? We can not blame this player or that one, it’s not that. It’s the season, a tough season.
‘We didn’t play our best. We are not our best and we struggle a bit.
‘I think in nine years it wasn’t the toughest defeat. Champions League defeats harder. But at the moment, we need results to lift our mood.
‘It’s getting worse and worse. I have to find the solution. So far I didn’t find it and this is the truth.’
City took the lead through Josko Gvardiol (right) but Guardiola says his side are getting worse
Bernardo Silva does not believe Man City were hard done by as they threw away victory
City struggled to create much after Josko Gvardiol’s opener and that will sting for Guardiola after such a disappointing run of form.
While Guardiola tried to alleviate the blame from his players, City midfielder Bernardo Silva launched into a scathing assessment of City’s form, claiming they are performing like kids.
‘At this level a game or two is unlucky,’ Silva said. ‘We can’t say this is lucky or unlucky — 11 games it’s not about that.
‘Today in the last minutes we played like Under 15s. Minute 87 in a derby, winning 1-0 and our corner ends in a penalty for them. If we make these stupid decisions with three or four minutes to go you deserve to pay for that.
‘We have to do better individually and collectively because it’s not the standards of Manchester City.’
