BLAME ME FOR EURO FAILURES

Guardiola convinced his side are not that far away.

Reflecting on City’s quarter-final exit to Lyon last season, the third successive year they have gone out at the same stage, he said: “It was a tough moment.

“I felt so responsible for this, how the club and players fought to achieve it, and I was not able to drive them. I don’t blame any single players.

“Still right now, I feel responsible watching the game, so we have to accept the reality.

“We have to accept it with humility and accept all the bad situations we have. That’s the best way to improve, go through and accept a new challenge to this season – start from zero again and try again, knowing we have to improve.”

City begin their latest European quest at home tonight against Porto, with Guardiola’s side second favourites with the bookies, behind holders Bayern Munich.

“I have the feeling that we’re close,” said Guardiola. “Every season, when I analyse the way we went out, I’ve felt we’re close.

“But, at the same time, we make some mistakes that makes you feel we don’t deserve to go through. It is about desire and avoiding mistakes. There are little gaps and we have to solve it.

“When you don’t solve it, it’s because you don’t deserve it.”

City were without Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Aymeric Laporte (above) and Benjamin Mendy for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal, but Guardiola said the injury situation was slowly improving.

“Oleksandr Zinchenko and other players are back,” he said.

“Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo are in good condition.

“We expect Benjamin Mendy back soon so the team will grow.”