Thursday 12 April 2018 13:32, UK
Manchester City are in "uncharted waters" after three defeats in a row, according to former striker Shaun Goater.
Defeats in both legs of their Champions League semi-final with Liverpool were intersected by a 3-2 defeat at home to rivals Manchester United at the weekend in a game that would have seen them claim the Premier League title with a victory.
Pep Guardiola's side now face a trip to Wembley to face Tottenham on Saturday evening - live on Sky Sports - but Goater believes they will recover sufficiently from their mini-slump to get something out of the game.
"This is unusual for the players to be in a position where they have lost three games in a row. These are uncharted waters for Man City," Goater told Premier League Daily.
"Pep Guardiola will have to lift the players, although they will find it within themselves [to bounce back].
"There are some City fans who are nervous about the Tottenham game but I think they will find a way to get a result."
Goater is not convinced that tiredness has played a part in their struggles, however, and feels they are simply struggling to finish teams off.
"It's not often City have actually been behind. I think it's just a case more recently of not putting chances away and not putting games to bed," added Goater.
"When I look at the games City have played recently, it doesn't show me signs of fatigue. Opportunities have been created and City just haven't put them home and they have not gone on to win those games."
As for areas where Guardiola may choose to strengthen his squad in the summer, Goater highlighted defensive midfield and attack as positions where he may wish to add to his options.
"Fernandinho is a key player for the team but he is 32. For me, he has two, maybe three more years because he is really that good," said Goater. "I always feel if he was injured, they need someone to fill in that key area.
"The other area of concern will be another centre-forward. I just felt in the last game, when I look at Sergio [Aguero], if I was him I would be thinking 'why am I not starting'?
"I accept I may not be starting but I would expect to be getting on for 35 or 30 minutes, I am the all-time leading goalscorer at this club.
"I think Sergio probably feels a bit disrespected having scored all the goals he has scored. I would love for him to be at the club and Pep has always said he will be staying, so it will be interesting to see if he is still at the club [next season].
"If he is not, another world-class centre-forward is what is needed."
Watch Tottenham v Manchester City on Saturday Night Football. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Premier League at 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event at 7:30pm.
