Pep: I believe in the way I play

City have managed four wins in 15 games, a sequence that has led to some sections of the media calling for Guardiola to make changes to his approach.

But the City boss has sent a clear message that he will not bend. 

He says he will make subtle tactical alterations and try to adapt to the demands of the English game – but he remains steadfast in his belief that the high-intensity, high-pressing game that saw City win their first 10 games of the season offers the best chance of success. 

“No way. We are going to play the way we feel,” he said when asked if he would move away from his principles. “I cannot do something I do not feel. 

“We need to minimise the mistakes to win the games. But I believe in the way I like to play. 

“The reason I am here is to help the players. I am thinking what I have to do to help them without changing. I believe in that way. 

 

“Of course I have to adapt, but that doesn’t mean I change the way I believe in football. You have to play in this kind of way with these players, because it’s the best way. The club thought for a long time that this is the kind of football (they want to play).

 

“I want to play like we did against Chelsea and it wasn’t a long time ago. I saw the game again; we didn’t deserve what happened but football is like that. 

 

“We could be top of the league but now we are seven points down. Football is sometimes like this. We have to improve because we make a lot of mistakes. I have to help the players. 

 

“The players suffered the same like me and you have to minimise that. It’s tough for us.”

 

Guardiola says the amount of time the ball is in the air is the biggest difference between the football he has faced in England compared to Spain and Germany. 

 

He believes high balls makes the game uncertain and admits his team have to get better at dealing with them if they want to be successful at the end of the season. 

 

“Here you have to control the second ball,” he said. “Without that you cannot survive. Most of the times, the ball is high than on the floor and it is uncertain. When it is there no one knows what will happen. 

 

“The ball is more in the air than on the floor here. You have to control that. 

 

“The way they play in other countries, you cannot be so focused on these kinds of things.

 

“The second goal in Leicester was a throw-in and the second ball is a goal. 

 

“But I understood English football the day I saw one game. Swansea v Crystal Palace - 5-4, 9 goals, eight set pieces. You have to control that. We are not able right now to control it.”