Pep Guardiola said he expected a slip in Manchester City’s standards sooner or later but even he has been shocked by the English champions’ implosion in a five-game losing streak.
After losing four consecutive matches for the first time in his decorated managerial career, Guardiola backed himself to turn the situation around by signing a two-year extension to his contract on Thursday.
Just 48 hours later, the positivity that deal created was punctured as City were humbled 4-0 by Tottenham to lose at home for the first time in 52 matches.
A side that has created history by winning an unprecedented four Premier League titles is now caught in a negative spiral.
Guardiola conceded his star-studded squad are “fragile” and low on confidence after a run that also included defeats to Bournemouth and Brighton, either side of a 4-1 Champions League thrashing by Sporting Lisbon.
“Being here for eight years, I knew that sooner or later we would drop,” said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
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