Pep Guardiola details when he will walk away from Man City as exit plan emerges

TOM BLOW FROM MIRROR

Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City he “cannot be here” if he loses the dressing room and they are not consistently challenging for the Premier League title.

Guardiola has expressed his frustration at his team’s form. City dropped points against Everton and Manchester United, and they conceded two sloppy goals in the 4-2 win against Tottenham last time out. Guardiola is worried his players are getting complacent.

City have dominated English football in recent years – winning four of the last five Premier League titles – and were the favourites to win this season’s crown after signing Erling Haaland last summer. The Norwegian has already scored 22 league goals this term.

Yet City find themselves five points behind leaders Arsenal having played a game more. They can cut the gap to just two points by beating Wolves on Sunday, although the Gunners can immediately restore their advantage by beating United on the same day.

Guardiola was asked about his team’s Premier League title chances ahead of the Wolves game. He said: “I won four LaLiga titles in Spain when I was a player at [ Barcelona ], four in a row, and the fifth [season] was not the same and the sixth was not the same.

“I was not starving enough. [Too much] caviar, [Real] Madrid beat me. I understand [the players] but I am here to [motivate them]. The chairman knows that.

“I want to be here but if I lose the team, I cannot be here. We are second in the table, we are not 25 points behind Arsenal, still we are there – 57 points still to play [for].”

Guardiola vented his frustration after City’s win against Tottenham. He was asked if he was happy with his players during an interview with Sky Sports. He replied: “Of course I’m not! I don’t recognise my team. My team always had passion, desire.”