Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has moved to clarify a light-hearted remark he made about wanting to harm himself following his team’s match in the Champions League.

In the last two summers, City have postponed much of the rebuild; two of the six recruits in that time are now in the band of 30-somethings. And while Guardiola said it was harder to be stable defensively without a quartet of centre backs and two holding midfielders, arguably he only has one: Mateo Kovacic does not covet that role.

Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year contract at Manchester City but has warned he will not hesitate to walk away if he doesn't feel the love at the Etihad

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City do not need a major rebuild this summer. For the first time in his storied managerial career, Guardiola is dealing with a crisis of results and faces the difficult task of a Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday.

"We will be back. We will do it," said Pep Guardiola after Manchester City's losing streak hit five games as the Etihad Stadium saw a home Premier League loss for the first time since022.