Pep Guardiola has revealed that he has requested the Manchester City hierarchy to give him the opportunity to turn the club’s form around, but has also stated that he will step down if he is unable to do so.
Guardiola is currently facing the toughest spell of his managerial career, with City suffering five consecutive losses in all competitions, followed by a dramatic draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League, where they conceded a three-goal lead.
The situation has been compounded by a series of injuries to key players, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Since arriving at Etihad Stadium in 2016, Guardiola has led City to 18 major trophies, including six Premier League titles in seven years and a Champions League victory. However, despite his success, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager, who recently signed a new two-year contract, has emphasized that past achievements do not guarantee his job if the team’s results do not improve.
“I don’t want to stay in the place if I feel like I’m a problem,” he said. “I don’t want to stay here just because the contract is there.
“My chairman knows it. I said to him, ‘Give me the chance to try to come back’, and especially when everybody comes back [from injury] and see what happens.
“After, if I’m not able to do it, we have to change because, of course, [the previous] nine years are dead.
“More than ever I ask to my hierarchy, give me the chance.
“Will it be easy for me now? No. I have the feeling that still I have a job to do and I want to do it.”
Premier League champions Manchester City are currently in fourth place and will face leaders Liverpool on Sunday. A loss would see them fall 11 points behind the Merseysiders.
While Guardiola is frustrated with the club’s current standing, he remains confident that the players can turn things around.
“I don’t enjoy it at all, I don’t like it,” he said. “I sleep not as good as I slept when I won every game. The sound, the smell, the perfume is not good enough right now.
“But I’m the same person who won four Premier Leagues in a row. I was happier because I ate better, lived better, but I was not thinking differently from who I am.
“The people say, ‘Yeah, it’s the end of that.’ Maybe, but we are in November. We will see what happens until the end.
“What can you do? Cry for that? You don’t stay long – many, many years without fighting. That is what you try to look for.
“Why should we not believe? Why should it not happen with us?”