The return to training of John Stones and Ruben Dias gives the City boss additional options as the fixtures come thick and fast in three different competitions.
“It’s good to have a fully fit squad,” said Guardiola.
“Now they have to compete (among) themselves for the benefit of the team and find the best solution.
“We know each other quite well - many years already. Myself, staff, and players.
“I know them perfectly when they are performing well and doing well.
“We admit that in a tough game against United, we behaved more than well.
“We didn’t win but that happens. The performance and the way we played against Leeds and Chelsea, we are not far away but we are a team.
“I learned in my time as a manager, as a player as well - but especially as a manager - that I am not alone in this world.
“Our opponents can sometimes do good things, too. If you give credit to them it doesn’t mean you are bad.
“When another one is better you have to admit it and this is the target you have to achieve. This is not a problem.
“When a team loses a game it’s like everything is not good. This is not the case, there are other teams that are good too, and we have to accept it.”
The City boss also admits the competitiveness at the top of the Premier League continues to increase year on year.
The Blues currently sit eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal, with Manchester United level on points and Newcastle United just a point behind going into our game with Spurs.
“Every year it has been like that,” he said.
“When I came here, and we were in the top four I congratulated ourselves and the team and the people said ‘this guy is false’.
“It’s normal, you have to qualify for the Champions League every season.
“Always it is difficult. It is about training to try to make the consistency in our games. This is what we have to do.
“I’d prefer to be eight points in front, but I like to handle these situations. I love it.
“I am stressed when I don’t have the solutions, but always I have the feeling that I know the reason why it doesn’t work.
“I said before. Now we are not in the time to think how many games we have to win, (just) win the next one.
“When we won 15 games in a row, we never thought we were going to do this. It would be wrong.
“We need to prepare for Spurs and what they do. Spurs are a great team with great mentality who never give up.
“They have a lot of quality in all departments and an excellent manager in Antonio Conte. He is so competitive.”
CITY V SPURS
You can follow the match across mancity.com and our official app.
Our Matchday Centre begins coverage at 18:00 with live text updates throughout the night.
Matchday Live will start just before 19:00 in order to bring the team news immediately. Cel Spellman will be joined by Michael Brown, Paul Dickov and Steve Howey for that one.
For the match itself, Alistair Mann and Andy Morrison will provide radio commentary.
After the game, we will have full reaction from the manager, a player and then highlights at midnight.
