Guardiola is in the midst of the longest losing run of his managerial career, with City suffering a fifth straight defeat in all competitions as it was thrashed 4-0 by Tottenham Hotspur.

It has also lost three Premier League games in a row and ended the weekend eight points adrift of leader Liverpool, which beat bottom club Southampton.

It is City's worst run in the competition since it lost three straight between February and March 2016, when it finished fourth under Manuel Pellegrini.

"In eight years we never lived this. I knew sooner or later we would drop," Guardiola said after the defeat to Spurs.

"I never expected to lose three Premier League games in a row but we have been incredibly consistent again and again and again.

"Now we cannot deny the reality that sometimes happens in football and life is here."

City's drop-off has coincided with star midfielder Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or last month, being sidelined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Guardiola's side did not lose any of the 34 Premier League matches in which Rodri appeared last season, winning 27 and drawing seven, although it lost three of four when the Spaniard was absent.

Each of City's past six league defeats have come when Rodri has not featured, but former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes their poor run cannot be totally blamed on his injury.

"We've seen City lose the odd game here, but we've very rarely seen them outplayed in every department, but that's what we're watching," pundit Neville said on English television.

"They look well short. As short as I've seen them since Pep's first season. I've not seen them as bad as this, how they've been in the last few weeks.

"He will have wanted that international break to come, thinking it would be a reset moment. But now here, it further entrenches the opinion this is a City side currently in decline.

"This is more than just Rodri, far more."