Pep More Motivated Than Ever

Heading into derby after successive losses, City boss says overhauled side need time

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LONDON - Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City are in good hands with him at the helm, while his immediate focus is to avoid a third successive Premier League loss when his team face neighbours Manchester United on Sept 14.

The Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium pits two troubled sides against each other, both of whom have just one win from three matches.

City's consecutive defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion have raised questions about Guardiola's expensive overhaul of his side after last season's third-place finish.

"When you change 10 players in a period of four or five months, everything needs to be settled, fixed and coordinated," Guardiola explained on Sept 12.

"We are doing many, many good things, but still we have to be more consistent. But step by step, we'll do it."

Looking ahead to his future and whether he is still the right man to take the club forward, he added: "I will not stay at Man City when I feel that the club needs a change. But right now, I feel I want to do it, more than ever after what happened last season.