Pep Guardiola says Manchester City cannot afford many more mistakes in the Premier League title race. Their defeat at Newcastle last weekend was their fourth loss of the season. City now sit seven points behind leaders Arsenal. The leaders have been in top form, losing only once in 12 matches.
“We cannot lose games, absolutely — that is the truth,” Guardiola said on Friday.
“They are so strong and winning games, and winning games in a way where they are so solid, like we had in the past with Liverpool against us and they were not going to drop many points.
“That’s why you have to be up there and this is what we will try to do.”
He looked back at the Newcastle defeat and said City played well but still failed to get a result.
“We made a really good game, we created more in Newcastle than previous seasons and it was quite good, but we lost.
“Now we have to regain our momentum to start winning games and being there because there is still so long in the season.”
City then slipped again in midweek with a 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Guardiola made 10 changes to the team, but he felt the players were too safe and did not take risks.
“We didn’t try. In football when you play on the green you have to try things and we didn’t try.”
He added: “I think they played not to make mistakes, not to play to do something, that is so difficult. In football you have to play offensive and you have to try… they played to be safe.”
Guardiola said the players who started that match may have lacked confidence.
“I have a lot of confidence in them, still right now I have a lot,” he said. “I have a huge value in what they are as football players, and that maybe is higher than (they have) themselves.”
Some City players tried to lift the crowd during the game, but Guardiola said he understood the quiet atmosphere.
“As a fan I would not cheer my team, playing in the way we played. I don’t blame (them), I blame myself. Our fans make the effort to come to see us and we are incredibly grateful, and I know the stadium because I’ve been here for many, many years.
“If you do what you have to do, they are there, and this is what you have to try to do.”
City will face struggling Leeds on Saturday. Rodri remains out, but Guardiola said the midfielder will return soon.
