Pep Guardiola has heavily criticised Manchester City's lack of "fire" and "passion" and believes that his team are "far away" from what they once were despite securing a 4-2 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Thursday.
The Citizens were under pressure to get a result from the contest at the Etihad Stadium after suffering a 2-1 defeat away at rivals Manchester United last weekend, slipping eight points behind Arsenal at the summit.
City made a bright start to proceedings against Spurs but were booed off at half time after quickfire goals on the stroke of half time from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal gave the visitors a two-goal advantage.
However, the reigning Premier League champions were electric out the blocks after the interval and turned the game on its head within the opening 12 minutes of the second half courtesy of strikes from Julian Alvarez, Erling Braut Haaland and Riyad Mahrez.
Man-of-the-match Mahrez then sealed the victory with a fourth goal in the 90th minute to boost City's title hopes and move them to within five points of leaders Arsenal at the halfway stage in the season.
Nevertheless, Guardiola believes that City were "lucky" to beat Spurs and claims his side will drops more points "sooner or later" if they continue to perform without the desire required to play at the highest level.
© Reuters
Speaking to Sky Sports in his post-match interview, Guardiola said: "I cannot deny how happy we are (to win against Spurs) but we are far away from the team that we were.
"Not in terms of the way we play because we played good in the first half, but there are many things like competitiveness, there are many things in which we are far away.
"Rico Lewis conceded four fouls and we do not react. We give away the first goal and after that the second goal is ridiculous. There is nothing from the stomach, from the guts. Today we were lucky but if we don't change sooner or later we are going to drop points again."
Asked what was missing from his team, the Spaniard added: "Guts, passion, fire and desire to win from minute one. It's the same with out fans, they were silent for 45 minutes.
"They booed because we were losing but not because we were playing bad. We played good, we had more chances, expected goals from Tottenham was zero. We were better but they booed because we were losing.
"Maybe it's the same like out team, maybe we are so comfortable winning four Premier Leagues in five years. After we score a goal they react, but that is not the point."
© Reuters
Asked if the "fire" has gone out of his side, Guardiola confidently replied: "Definitely. Otherwise we do not concede the goals that we concede in every single game. We need them (to react). Today we were lucky but the day after we will not be lucky. It is my duty, it is my job (to bring the fire back)."
Guardiola has also urged the Man City fans to replicate their away support at the Etihad Stadium, adding: "I want my fans back. Not my away fans because they are the best, but my fans [at home]. To support every corner, every action, to support [the team]."
"I understand we [as a team] have to [perform] but everyone is too relaxed. The Premier League doesn't wait. We have an opponent like Arsenal that have the fire! Two decades without the Premier League and every player knows they will be in history [if they go on to win the title] like what we felt when we won out first Premier League and we broke all the records."
The 52-year-old continued: "I just explain the reality that everything is so comfortable and opponents don't wait, they are there. Of course I'm not [happy with my players] I don't recognise my team. My team always had passion, had desire from everyone."
Man City will now turn their attention to Sunday's home encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers and a victory would see them move to within two points of Arsenal, who face Manchester United just a few hours later.
No Data Analysis info
