Guardiola keen to mop up leaky City defence

Boss Pep Guardiola is calling on Manchester City to be more clinical in defence after defeat to Barcelona compounded his side to a sixth successive game without a clean sheet.

City enjoyed a frantic start to their Premier League season, winning their first five games, but the introduction of Champions League football has brought about a few stutters to the campaign.

A 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur was the first blemish on the domestic record for Guardiola, with last week’s draw with Everton keeping them atop the league only by goal difference.

But it’s in Europe where most of City’s problems have come following a disappointing 3-3 draw at Celtic which, coupled with Wednesday’s defeat in Barcelona, has left the side precariously balanced in their bid to progress from the group.

And Guardiola – himself a former manager at the Nou Camp – feels much of the problem lies at the feet of his side, something which needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“The defeat to Spurs was the game that we’ve had this season that wasn’t great. Against Celtic we gifted them the goals, they didn’t make too much to score a goal,” he said.

“At Champions League level, against the strikers at teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG, one chance is one goal.

“Everton were in our box twice and got a goal, so we need to improve that. We need to be more clinical, more aggressive – you can create the build-ups, but we need to be clinical to stop the goals.

“In the box we were not good. If you do that against Barcelona, with their midfielders and strikers, then it is not good.”