- Guardiola under immense pressure after six-game winless run
- City at risk of conceding defeat in Premier League title race already
- Manager signed a new contract last week
Pep Guardiola has reminded critics his track record of success with Manchester City can explain why he is not fighting for his future at the Etihad Stadium this season.
Guardiola had lost five consecutive matches across all competitions for the first time in his career but looked set to get back to winning ways in midweek against Feyenoord, only to throw away a three-goal lead in sensational fashion to slump to a 3-3 draw.
City are now at risk of conceding defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League title race already - the two sides face off on Sunday and could be separated by 11 points if Arne Slot's side emerge victorious - and many have suggested Guardiola could be sacked if the Cityzens fail to recover soon.
Guardiola, however, insisted he has no reason to be worried about his future.
"At this football club you have to win and if you don't win, you will be in trouble," he acknowledged. "I know the people say, 'Why is Pep not in trouble, why is Pep not sacked?' What we have done the last eight years is why I have this margin.
"The people rely on me, the hierarchy, the people. It is not normal in the big clubs to do the results we have but we have to accept it. What's for sure I want to stay, I want to do it. But the moment I feel I am not positive for the club another one will come. It has to be."
Guardiola went on to stress that he is relishing the prospect of battling to drag City out of their current slump.
"No complaining, no blaming, no pointing – don't run away from your responsibility," he said. "I have absolutely all on my shoulders. I have to and I want it.
"I want the opportunity to try. I don't want to run. I want to be there and rebuild the team in many aspects from now on until the end of the season and next season. I want to continue up there. It's not nice to live, of course it's not nice, but what do you expect? That everything is red carpet?
"It's not an excuse that Rodri is not there. What are we going to do, cry all the time that Rodri is not there or that the four central defenders have not been there for a long time in the last month? I have to find a solution and the way to do it. I'm trying every day."
