Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he was responsible for his side’s underwhelming form this season, in which they have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games.

The run of poor form has left the reigning champions sixth in the standings with 31 points from 19 matches, 14 fewer than leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

City’s campaign has been hindered by a rash of injuries, with Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, goalkeeper Ederson, as well as defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias among those sidelined.

“There are many, many things and I missed something – something I am not doing well,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of Saturday’s home game against 13th-placed West Ham United.

“In the end, when you lose a lot of games, it is an incredible responsibility for the manager to take. There is something the team needs and confidence, and I was not able to do it.

“The call is on me first, it’s not the players. They naturally drop a little bit and that is normal. It happened a little bit last season as well.

“I blame (myself). It’s not to say, ‘Oh, how nice is Pep’ – it’s the truth. I led that group of players and I could not lift them. This is the reality.”

Guardiola’s side will look to make it two wins on Saturday after beating relegation-threatened Leicester City 2-0 last weekend.

-Reuters

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After going on a disastrous run of five defeats in six matches,

Manchester United manager Rubén Amorim has reportedly opened a book containing the list of players to be disposed of to reverse the club’s dwindling fortunes.

Among those to be off-loaded, is Joshua Zirzkee who was substituted after 33 minutes in their defeat by Newcastle.

Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are also believed to be in the ‘black book. ‘

Amorim has already declared Marcus Rashford as transferable.

Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes are all but over with the defending champions having left themselves too much ground to make up as they trail leaders Liverpool by 14 points, midfielder Bernardo Silva said.

City lifted a record fourth straight English top-flight title last season, but have struggled in this campaign and sit sixth in the table after winning only two of their last 10 league matches.

Pep Guardiola’s team has been hit hard by injuries this season, with Ballon d’Or winner Rodri out for the rest of the season and several players spending lengthy spells on the sidelines.

“Right now it’s about accepting reality. I’m not looking at Liverpool. I’m sixth in the league, I cannot be looking at Liverpool or Arsenal,” Silva told Sky Sports in an interview published on Thursday.

“I’m looking at the next game to try and win three points… I wouldn’t say it’s impossible because in football there are no impossibles but right now Manchester City is completely out of the title race, no question about that, it’s too late for us.

“People say you cannot win the league until January, but you can lose it. This season the reality is that we have lost it.”

City host 13th-placed West Ham United in a league match on Saturday, before taking on fourth-tier side Salford City in the FA Cup on Jan. 11.

-Reuters