Pep Guardiola launches staunch defence of Man City players after losing run amid rebuild claim | OneFootball

Guardiola is on the worst run of his managerial career

Pep Guardiola has played down the need for a rebuild at Manchester City, insisting his squad remains "exceptional" and that he trusts his players "more than ever".

The champions are now eight points behind Liverpool, who can widen the gap further if they inflict another defeat on their rivals at Anfield next Sunday.

Guardiola's squad has been beset by injuries this season but John Stones returned to the XI against Spurs, while Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish were second-half substitutes.

Asked if City needed a summer rebuild after four consecutive League titles, Guardiola said: "I think when all the squad is there it is exceptional.

"I will not, for my boys, say a word that my team is not good. My team is not ready now. It is a little problem that we have in this period but the team is really good and at the end of the season or whenever... we will take the right decisions on what to do.

Pep Guardiola has lost five matches in a row for the first time as a manager

Martin Rickett/PA Wire

"I see them every day in training sessions, how focused they are. In the locker room, in the warm-up and after the game, they feel it.

"It is little things wrong from the beginning of the season that are getting worse, a little bit worse in situations. Now we have to face it.

"You cannot say anything, the situation is where you have to keep going my friends, keep going. We have done it in the past. Not as bad as now in terms of results, but we have done it and faced the situation and moved forward."

City have beaten just Wolves, Southampton and Fulham by a single goal since Ballon d'Or winner Rodri was ruled out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury in September, while his replacement in the side Mateo Kovacic was injured on international duty and set to be out for up to a month.

Guardiola reiterated that he must find a way for his side to establish control and get back to winning ways without the pair, with Feyenoord the visitors the Etihad in the Champions League on Tuesday night before the crunch six-pointer against Liverpool.

"Of course [we missed] the presence from central defenders when they are all fit, from Rodri of course, Kova with his space of course," said Guardiola, who signed a two-year contract extension ahead of the defeat to Spurs.

"It is different from playing with other ones but you have to deal with this and these types of games, more control and these types of things.

"During the season it happens. We don’t expect to lose important games many times but it has happened and we have to find a way.

"When we started to lose I said to people ‘I have to find a way’. I have to. It is my duty and responsibility to find a way to be more consistent, get better and win games. This is what we have to do."