'Pep wouldn't be human if he didn't start to have doubts'

Pep Guardiola said he wasn't feeling sorry for himself at his media conference this lunchtime.

It is the kind of reactive comment we are not used to hearing from the Manchester City manager.

Given the draw that is included in his side's current run was the Champions League game against Feyenoord, when City led 3-0 with 20 minutes left, it must feel like seven straight defeats.

He has not come close to experiencing anything like that before and as the problems continue and solutions prove elusive, Guardiola must be rolling round loads of ideas and theories in his mind.

He would not be human if he did not start to have doubts.

But he knows, as every manager does, the players are looking for him to provide support and come up with the right answers.

I suspect that is why he was so forthright in his assertion that his City squad can reach previous levels if everyone was fit.

I am not so sure. It feels to me like some kind of rebuild is required.

He did not rule out January signings. The big question is how many?