Guardiola admits Man City should have signed more players in the summer Football
The Premier League title holders have been hit by injury problems and poor form as they trail leaders Liverpool by 12 points.
Manchester City need to invest in the January transfer window due to injury problems and a sluggish Premier League campaign, manager Pep Guardiola has said, admitting it may be a mistake to turn down summer signings.
“In the summer, the club thought about this [signings] and I said: 'No, I don't want to sign,'” Guardiola told reporters on Monday.
“I had a lot of faith in these guys and I thought I could do it again. But after the injury, maybe we should have done it.”
City's title defense looks set to end after six league defeats left them sixth in the table and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.
Guardiola's side are missing Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri, who ruptured knee ligaments in September, and injured defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias.
City have not made a major signing in January since Aymeric Laporte arrived for $69.67m from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.
Guardiola could not confirm whether a deal had been reached to bring in Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
“The team did not announce anything. I don't know,” he said.
“Rodri is impossible but these are others [injured players] I want to come back. If it had happened I would not have gone to the transfer window this season. Not at all.
“We wouldn't be in the situation we are in but we are struggling all season. It's not just Rodri, we have a lot of problems in the back four. That's why the club thinks we can do this.”
After City's 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford City on Saturday, Guardiola revealed that Walker had asked to leave the club, but the manager was unaware of the situation and the right-back could be in the Brentford squad.
“There is no news. I won't add anything, no more news. “I only have Brentford on my mind,” said Guardiola.
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