Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned his players that they are far from certain to finish in the Premier League’s top four this season.

Guardiola’s team is in second place and will play Tottenham on Thursday. They want to stay close to the top team, Arsenal, after a rough patch that could end their reign as champions.

After losing 2-1 to Manchester United on Saturday, City is now eight points behind Arsenal, but Guardiola is more worried about the teams below them.

If Tottenham wins at the Etihad Stadium, they would be only three points behind City. Third-placed United moved even with Guardiola’s team on points after a draw at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Newcastle is only one point behind City, which hasn’t been in the top four since 2010.

Guardiola thinks that this season is the hardest one he has had to deal with in Manchester.

“When I came here, they said, ‘Oh, you’re in the top four’, but I always congratulated ourselves and the team,” Guardiola told reporters.

“I give a lot of credit when we’ve qualified for the last 10 or 11 years in the Champions League every season.

“The people say, ‘Oh, it’s false, this guy is false’, but it’s wrong. Now is not the time to think how many games you have to win for the title. Just win the next one.”

City are in the middle of their worst stretch of the season. They have only won one of their last three league games, and their loss to Southampton in the League Cup quarterfinals was a shock.

They only got one shot on goal in the games against Southampton and United, and Erling Haaland, Guardiola’s top scorer, hasn’t scored in his last three games.

“We have our game, we have our principles but the way we played in last two games didn’t help Erling to score,” Guardiola said.

“In the past we have always had incredible movements in the final third, in the small spaces.

“Now, in the last two games, we haven’t had it. I would say it was my fault. I didn’t make them understand the way we have to attack.

“I prefer to be eight points in front but I like to handle this situation, I love it. I have to find something to make the team better. I’m the man responsible.

“People don’t think about the memories, how good we were. When I die people will talk about how good Pep was. That’s for sure.

“But since we are here, people expect us to perform well, win the games and try to find the way. Otherwise, Pep out. This is how our jobs work and I want Pep in!”