City are eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium.
After successive defeats to Southampton in the Carabao Cup and Manchester United, Guardiola says the most important thing is to get back winning, starting with Spurs.
“Pressure is the next game,” he said in his press conference. “We are not able to think about big expectations apart from winning the next game.
“If [Arsenal] are eight points in front it’s because they deserve to be there. They have been better than us so far but there are still many games to play - it’s how we come back.
“Always when we are behind I say don’t think about. We caught up with Liverpool in last years.
“Just think about the next game and after we see what happens. We have been in this position many times in the past. It’s not the first time we are there.”
Guardiola also urged his players to forget about the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford and focus on the threat that Spurs will bring.
While Antonio Conte’s side lost at the weekend to the Gunners in the North London derby, Spurs have been a difficult side to beat in recent years, winning four of the last five games between the two Clubs.
City have often been frontrunners in the title race and Guardiola was asked if he was calm about the current situation with more than half of the season still to play.
“I have never been relaxed even when eight points in front. During the game, before the game, never,” he said.
“It’s better [to be eight points ahead]. You can drop points and still you are there and when you are behind you cannot drop points.”
WATCH: Pep Guardiola Press Conference | Tottenham (H) | Broadcast Section
Goal-scoring opportunities have been difficult to come by recently and Guardiola said it was his job to come up with tactical iniatives and said there was no issues with players’ mentalities in the recent setbacks.
“When we play good it is I think it is because of tactical reasons and when we don’t play good it is tactical reasons,” he added. “I have the duty to find the solution to that.
“This is what I have to do. It is not a mentality reason. This group of players? Not at all.”
