PEP: TIME IS RUNNING OUT
Guardiola says City must go on winning run to have a title shot
PEP GUARDIOLA has told his Manchester City stars they cannot afford any more slip-ups if they want to remain in the title race.
City could find themselves 11 points behind champions and Premier League leaders Liverpool by the time his side kick-off at Southampton.
Although they have a game in hand, Guardiola acknowledged his side need to put together a winning run if they are to challenge for the title.
“We know we have to start to win games and games,” said Guardiola, whose side have lost two and drawn five of their 12 league games. “If not, it will not be possible. We know it.
“But it’s not about the distance. It’s about what Liverpool is able to do, what To t t e n h am , wh a t Southampton can do – there are eight teams in front of us.
“We have played a game fewer, but you have to win it. So we have to start to win games in a row, to be there at the end, or it will not be possible.”
Guardiola conceded City are struggling for goals, with the Blues having scored just 18 in the league this season, compared to 35 at the same stage last year.
Star striker Sergio Aguero remains injury- prone while Gabriel Jesus has failed to score in his last seven games for City. Despite that, he said he will not go into the market for a striker in next month’s transfer window, but will remind all of his players of their obligation to score. “We have to insist, insist and insist,” said Guardiola. “There’s no other way - 26 shots – the amount City had in their 1-1 draw with West Brom (left) – is not enough – we need to create more.
“We have to score more and everyone knows it” it.” Asked if the solution could be a new striker, Guardiola said: “Absolutely not.
“Okay, the last 32 or 33 games we played, Sergio could play just four or five, but Gabriel has incredible numbers.
“The statistics, for minutes and goals scored in the Premier League since he came here, he’s one of the best, the top three or four. So he’s a guy who scores goals, but everyone can.”
Asked if Aguero will be fit to start today, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. Yesterday, he didn‘t train but today he trained really well. It wasn’t the knee, it was another area.”