Pep Guardiola is currently wrestling with the biggest challenge of his managerial career as he looks to turn around Manchester City’s current slump in form.
City had lost five games in a row before they threw away a late three-goal lead in their Champions League clash against Feyenoord at the Etihad on Tuesday evening.
This poor run has seen City fall eight points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool ahead of the two team’s showdown at Anfield on Sunday.
Guardiola has been dealing with a host of injuries to what is an aging squad during this run and after signing a new contract to remain with the club until at least 2027 earlier this month, he used his pre-Liverpool press conference to reiterate his desire to rebuild his team.
Pep Guardiola outlines his rebuild plans
Speaking to media ahead of his side’s trip to Anfield, which Gary Neville says will be ‘really interesting’, Guardiola said: “We will be back, I know that. I don’t know when, that is the truth.
“I want to stay, I want to do it. But the moment I feel I’m not positive for the club, another manager will come. But I want the opportunity to try it, I don’t want to run away, I want to be there.
“I want to rebuild the team in many aspects from now on until the end of the season and next seasons I asked for that challenge, this opportunity to do it, because I feel it. I know what I want to do and what we need.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 8 | 16 | 31 |
| 2 |  Man CityManchester City | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 23 |
| 3 |  ChelseaChelsea | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 22 |
| 4 |  ArsenalArsenal | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 22 |
| 5 |  BrightonBrighton | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 22 |
“I know the consistency we once had we don’t have now, but which team around the world in 10 years is consistent. It does not exist, not even in the NBA, tennis, golf, in any sports. It is not nice to leave it but what do you expect?
“It proves how we are as sportsmen and competitors. It is easiest when you have ten, twelve games in a row and everyone is fit and in their prime. I have to prove myself now. I have to find a solution and a way to do it and I am trying every day.”
The scope of Guardiola’s rebuild challenge
Manchester City’s current first-team squad includes 12 players who are aged 29 or older, including a number of key contrubitors.
And while Guardiola last week said critics were wrong to point fingers at his squad’s age as a reason for their current slump, the likes of Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan are all approaching their mid-thirties and will need replacing in the near-future.
| Player | Age | Contract expires |
| Scott Carson | 39 | 2025 |
| Kyle Walker | 34 | 2026 |
| Ilkay Gundogan | 34 | 2025 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 33 | 2025 |
| Stefan Orgega | 32 | 2026 |
| Ederson | 31 | 2026 |
| Mateo Kovacic | 30 | 2027 |
| John Stones | 30 | 2026 |
| Bernardo Silva | 30 | 2026 |
| Nathan Ake | 29 | 2027 |
| Manuel Akanji | 29 | 2027 |
| Jack Grealish | 29 | 2027 |
Guardiola’s new deal shows that he has the desire to embark on building his next great City team, something he will have to do with a new sporting director, when Hugo Viana replaces Txiki Begiristain next year.
Should they get this next rebuild right, Guardiola’s words from his pre-Liverpool press conference will have served a timely warning for his critics.
