Pep: It's a tough period but we will keep fighting | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola admitted that City were going through a ‘tough’ period in the wake of Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League loss Juventus – but reiterated his total confidence in his side’s capacity to quickly bounce back to form.

Second half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie saw the Italian giants take the spoils at the Allianz Stadium despite City dominating possession and territory.

It extended a frustrating run of results for City to one win from the last 10 games, and left us in 22nd place in the 36-strong Champions League table with two matches remaining.

But addressing the media afterwards, the City boss insisted he was more than satisfied with much of what he saw from his players.

“Of course it’s tough. Except one or two games in this period that were not good, we played quite similar, and I give credit to Juventus,” Guardiola declared.

“Tonight, I don’t think it was defensive mistakes much. That was not the reason [we lost], other games yes but not today.

“We missed that last pass when we arrive in the six-yard box. That was the difference today, but I love my team.

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“I love my team the way we play and the result is not going to convince me of the opposite.

“Congratulations on the way they defended, in the transitions they did it. But we were incredibly aggressive in our high pressing.

“We won the long balls and the back four was really good. Of course, it was a cross and Vlahovic is strong in that position.

“But the way we played I’m really pleased.”

Further reflecting on what has been a tough passage of results, the boss added that he was always analysing performances and seeking to try and find the best way to inspire his players.

And he insisted he and his players would leave no stone unturned in an effort to quickly inspire a return to regular winning ways.

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“Yes, of course. I have my thoughts,” Pep added.

“I say that every game we played good I analyse. What happened in the results is one question. I am asking here: what do I play today to play really good?

“Of course, I question myself in the good moments and the bad moments. I was stable in the good moments and I’m stable in the bad moments.

“Of course, I try to find a way and do it but the game was there.

“I’m incredibly honest about knowing when we don’t play good or play good, always the game will save us.

“For the results confidence gives us, results gives us a boost and we can do it.

“But today we conceded few, few, few chances when you compare it for example Nottingham Forest or some other Premier League games that we won because we’re playing in the right tempo.

“What has happened, that is life. It happened.

“We have to accept it like a normality that sometimes we have bad periods with results and we’re going to insist, insist, insist until the end.”