Pep Guardiola has admitted that he is questioning himself after watching his Manchester City side slump to their seventh defeat in 10 games across all competitions on Wednesday.
Despite performing "really, really good" in their latest outing against Juventus in the Champions League, the Citizens were beaten 2-0 in Turin courtesy of second-half strikes from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie.
Defeat leaves Man City - the 2023 Champions League winners - languishing 22nd in the 36-team standings and in danger of missing out on a place in knockout rounds.
Indeed, automatic last-16 qualification looks beyond Guardiola's side, as they are five points behind the top eight with only two games remaining, while they are hanging on to a place in the top 24 and sit just once point above their next opponents Paris Saint-Germain, who are currently placed outside the playoff positions.
Man City also have a steep mountain to climb if they wish to retain their Premier League title, as a run of just one win in six top-flight fixtures has seen them slip to fourth in the table and eight points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
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Guardiola: 'Our game will save us, we can do it'
Reflecting on Man City's poor run of form after their latest defeat to Juventus, Guardiola told reporters: "Of course I question myself, but I'm stable in good moments and bad moments.
"I try to find a way to do it. I'm incredibly honest. If we play good [I say] we played good and today I thought we played good.
"Our game will save us. We can do it. We conceded few chances compared to the Nottingham Forest game that we won. We're making the right tempo.
"We missed the last pass, did not arrive in the six-yard box [at the right time] or have the composure at the right moment.
"But I love my team. This is life, it happens. Sometimes you have a bad period but I'm going to insist until we're there."
Guardiola has accepted that a top-eight finish is unlikely and his primary aim is to secure a place in the top 24 with positive results against PSG and Club Brugge.
The Catalan said: "It's the target. We need one point or three points. We go to Paris to try to do it and the last game at home."
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Guardiola disagrees with Gundogan over squad confidence
Meanwhile, Guardiola has refused to agree with Ilkay Gundogan's post-match comments about Man City suffering from a loss of confidence during their difficult run of form.
Gundogan told TNT Sports: "[Confidence] is a big part of it. That's a mental issue as well.
"You can see that sometimes we miss the ball or lose a duel and you see that we drop immediately and lose the rhythm. [The opponents] don't even need to do much, but it has such a big effect on us right now. They are able to break our rhythm with the smallest thing.
"Even more you have to do the simple things as good as possible and create and fluidity, then it's work hard again. This is how you get confidence back - do the small and simple things, [but] in crucial moments at the moment we are always doing the wrong things."
In response to Gundogan's comments, Guardiola said: "I am not agreeing with Ilkay. Of course it is tough but, except one or two games in this period, we've played good."
Man City will now turn their attention to the small matter of the Manchester derby in the Premier League on Sunday when they play host to rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.
Oliver Thomas
