Tuesday 13 December 2016 18:36, UK
Pep Guardiola insists he will not alter Manchester City's style of play despite seeing them drop to fourth in the Premier League.
After winning their first 10 games under the Spaniard in all competitions, City have won just four of their last 15 matches ahead of Wednesday's match with Watford.
They have lost their last two Premier League matches to Chelsea and Leicester, conceding seven goals, and have kept only one clean sheet in their last 17 outings.
As negative statistics begin piling, a defiant Guardiola has maintained he will work to correct errors rather than adopt a new approach, with title rivals Arsenal this weekend's visitors, live on Sky Sports.
Asked if he feels he may have to make changes to the style of football his team plays, he said: "No, no way. We are going to play the way I feel, making mistakes and improving the mistakes.
"I cannot do something I don't feel. You have to win immediately. If you don't win, you will be in trouble and when you don't win, there are many reasons.
"Maybe it is because the opponent is better but you improve what you are not doing properly. You have to minimise your mistakes to win the games.
"I believe in that, I believe in what I like to play so I am sorry. If I am not able to do that, the boss, the chairman is going to decide.
"Against Chelsea, we didn't deserve what happened but football is sometimes like that and you have to improve. I have to discover how I can help my players. That is my job.
"Of course, I have to adapt but does that mean change the way you believe in football? What am I going to do?
"The players don't want to make mistakes. They suffer the same as me, the staff. The reason I am here is to help them. I am thinking about what I have to do to help them without changing."
Guardiola's City side are seven points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea but have 23 games with which to turn things around.
They have also reached the last 16 of the Champions League, beating Barcelona on the way, and the Spaniard has stressed his task is a work in progress despite difficulties in the last few weeks.
Guardiola added: "Give me time, come on. If you analyse the last month, month and a half, you are right.
"Sir Alex Ferguson, my idol, took 11 years to win the first Premier League. Liverpool is 25 years and they have not won the Premier League.
"I need time from the beginning of my time here. The last month, we have accept like a team, like a club.
"I have to accept that I am the manager so I have to manage. It is not going well. The last four games at home we didn't win. We scored four goals in four games at home.
"I have no defence of that but it's not about changing what you believe. It's about improving what you believe.
"You have to be strong and accept opinions of former players, the media and managers. I hope they will give me a little more time to try."
