Pep Guardiola defiant as he faces prospect of his equal-worst run as a manager

City's midweek humbling by Barcelona in the Champions League extended their winless run to four games.

It is an unfamiliar scenario for manager Guardiola and another disappointing result as Southampton visit in the Premier League on Sunday would equal the worst run of his career.

Only once has former Barca and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola gone five games without a win, at the Nou Camp more than seven years ago.

Guardiola said: "Managers in other parts of the club have to think short and long term but the (team) managers day by day

We are judged on what happens today, so I'm thinking about Southampton.

"Of course we have to win because it is four times without a win and we need that

But, at the same time, we were able to win 10 times in a row, so we are now able win four, five or six times."

Southampton were also involved in European action in the week, losing 1-0 to Inter Milan at San Siro

Until then Saints had been enjoying a good run, going seven games unbeaten, and Guardiola has been impressed by what he has seen of them.

He said: "I saw the game against Inter Milan

Football is unbelievable because they played amazingly, much better than Inter, and Inter won

Inter just shot once and won.

"Southampton created six, seven clear chances and didn't win

They lost but I was really impressed.

"People talk about what a good team they are

I saw in this game and a little bit of another game how good they are

It will be tough."

The 4-0 loss in Barcelona has seen some of Guardiola's methods questioned

Notably, their determination to play out from the back came unstuck when goalkeeper Claudio Bravo blundered after coming out of his area and got himself sent off.

But Guardiola has defended his approach and his players also seem unwavering in their belief.

Midfielder Fernandinho said: "We know exactly what we are doing, the style of game

We are playing good, everyone is confident.

"The last four games we didn't win but these things can happen in football

If you see the last game at home against Everton, they shot twice and scored a goal

Sometimes you cannot explain football."

Source : PA

Source: PA