Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are experiencing something completely new after Saturday’s shock 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham made it five defeats in a row.

The city losing streak started with a defeat at Spurs in the Carabao Cup and following the resumption of the national campaign after a new international break, the Londoners crushed them 4-0 at the Etihad.

It’s the shock of the season so far and a result that leaves the champions’ title defense under scrutiny.

The Citizens are already five points behind leader Liverpool – whose current game is at Southampton on Sunday – having lost three Premier League matches in a row.

Guardiola insists his side are not out of the title race, with the Spaniard not taking into account what the table could look like at the end of 2024/25.

“I don’t know,” he said when asked if the 4-0 defeat ended City’s title defense. “But it’s not about whether you’re going to win or lose (the championship).

“We are not ready to think about what will happen at the end of the season.

“At the end of the day (if) we don’t win (the title) it’s because we don’t deserve it – when we’ve won in the past it was because we deserve it.

“What we have to do now is Feyenoord (on Tuesday). This is the most important thing – firstly for the qualification for the Champions League – and little by little the players will improve.

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Guardiola continued: “At the moment we are fragile defensively.

“We started very well, as usual, but we couldn’t score and then we conceded. Afterwards, we conceded more, which is difficult for our emotions at the moment.

“In eight years, we have never experienced this kind of situation. Now we have to live it and break it by winning the next matches, especially the next one. Now we see things a certain way, maybe in a few weeks we will see them differently.

Regarding the team’s state of mind, the Spanish coach added: “They are angry for the way they play, but sometimes the opponent is good and sometimes you are not good enough in certain areas.

“I would say the mistake is to overthink the analysis of what happened and the other mistake would be that after eight years it changes a lot.

“You have to (rely) on simple things that we completely believe in, step by step the players will come back and we will start trying to win games again.

“If in the end it doesn’t happen, what can we do? More than ever, hopefully. Because I am extremely optimistic in my life, I hope they can follow me.

Despite the club’s poor form before the Spurs clash, the mood was positive following the announcement of Guardiola’s contract extension by two years.

The former Barcelona manager has ended speculation over his future, with many expecting him to leave when his old contract expires next summer.

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