Pep Guardiola: Man City need help in January

Pep Guardiola wants “help” in the January transfer window as he tries to revive Manchester City’s stuttering season.

The defending Premier League champions signed off on 2024 with a battling 2-0 win away at Leicester City.

It marked only a second victory in their last 14 games across all competitions, as Guardiola celebrated 500 matches in charge.

Guardiola is expected to be backed by the City hierarchy in the mid-season window – despite his indication after the Leicester game that a title challenge is over – and the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss wants “help” to reduce the pressure on his injury-hit squad.

“In some positions we need help,” Guardiola told BBC Sport after seeing goals from Savinho and Erling Haaland propel his team to victory at the King Power Stadium.

“When we’re all together we’re the team we were but with important players out for weeks and months it’s so difficult.”

500 – Pep Guardiola today becomes the first manager to take charge of a Premier League club 500 times in all competitions since David Moyes reached that figure for Everton in January 2013. Landmark. pic.twitter.com/KdjZ23YqKa

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 29, 2024

City are fifth, 14 points behind league leaders Liverpool, and Guardiola has given up any hope of retaining the title.

“We are far away from winning the Premier League,” he said.

“We accept there’s already no chance of that but we have other things to fight for: FA Cup, top four, and winning games helps that.”