Pep Guardiola admits Man City needed to be 'SHAKEN' by poor results and rejects Gary Neville's claim that their worst Premier League run since 2017 is down to 'complacency'

Pep Guardiola claimed that Manchester City have behaved like Cheshire cats this season and needed ‘a shake’ to wake them up.

City are on their worst run of form in the Premier League since 2017 and lie six points behind Arsenal at they defend the title for a third straight year.

Guardiola insisted that the club’s critics have short memories – City have always been adept at hunting down leaders after New Year – and backed his players to turn their fortunes around.

But he believes the dip in results is a necessity, suggesting that the entire club have appeared too pleased with themselves after the heroics of completing an historic Treble.

Guardiola warned they face a battle to make the top four following Wednesday night’s defeat at Aston Villa, while relishing the personal challenge of attempting to reignite their campaign.

‘For a long time, we’ve lived like a cat (with) how good we are,’ Guardiola said while stroking his head. ‘We needed bad results to say guys this business, it’s terrible. It’s terrible. You are unbeatable and then oh my God, you cannot win one game. From nothing.

Pep Guardiola argued that his team can benefit from being ‘shaken’ by a run of poor results

However, he shot down allegations of complacency, as suggested by Gary Neville

‘One month ago I thought the club needed a shake, to be shaken. The bad results can help you to live that. I think for everyone it is good, living what we are living. I would say I think it’s necessary to live that.

‘For the players it’s a good challenge to say, “oh my God, Aston Villa were miles better than all of us.” (Thinking) that is the only thing that can put you in the right place.

‘Not (just) my words, it doesn’t work. Say, “WOW, Villa were better so imagine the other ones.” The club, all the organisation, (know) we can be out of the Champions League next season, we have to work hard.’

City drew against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham before being soundly beaten at Villa Park. Guardiola refuted Gary Neville’s suggestion that they were suffering from complacency earlier in the week and doubled down on that before facing Luton Town on Sunday..

‘It’s not about complacency,’ he added. ‘Complacency is about arriving late to training, not training good, not doing a good job, (and thinking it) doesn’t matter what happens.

City are winless in four games and were dominated by Aston Villa on Wednesday night

Guardiola pointed to City’s struggles last season and their how they recovered to win the Treble as an example of how things can change quickly

‘I’m talking about just the bad results, see how difficult it is what we have done (in the past). The bad results help you to understand it.

‘Even for the media, for the fans, say “oh my god, they lose.” Four games without winning, it can be five, six. It can happen. Fans realise what we have done, this group of people… chapeau.

‘All the people say in October, November, “oh, City are going to win the league.” Do you know how we struggled last season to win the Treble? We were eight, nine, 10 points behind Arsenal. How we struggled with injuries and all the problems we have.

‘It’s normal and it’s why we give credit to the treble, it was really difficult. The same team right now, before Wolves we were one game away from the best start ever on this club. During the international break, we were top, not two seasons ago.’

Despite a makeshift midfield at Villa, Guardiola again opted against selecting Kalvin Phillips. ‘I visualise something, I visualise the team and things,’ he said. ‘I struggle a little bit to see him, that’s all. It’s not because I am not pleased. I feel so sorry for him. It’s a business, in the end I have to act professional.’