PEP GUARDIOLA admits he’s been caught off-guard by the frantic pace of English football.
Manchester City are currently halfway through a run of six games in 18 days, and new boss Guardiola concedes he’s struggling to adjust.
The Premier League big-spenders have failed to record a win in their last five games and suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League.
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City face rivals Manchester United in the EFL Cup fourth round this evening, and Guardiola could be tempted to stick with his regular first-team faces in order to get a win and boost confidence.
The Spaniard has already got one over Jose Mourinho this season, but admits things are already becoming tougher due to the constant amount of games being played.
He said: “Our last few games have been tough. If you are winning a game 3-0 in the last 15 or 20 minutes you can have more control and it gets a little easier.
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“But we were playing 10 against 11 against Barcelona, it’s physical and tough in the Champions League. After that there was the game against Southampton, when we made a mistake to go behind.
“Three days after Manchester United it is West Brom, then Barcelona and they are so important as well. I am still learning about football in this country.
“Even when we were winning ten games in a row I felt we had to make a lot of effort to win those games. You cannot win any game here without spending a lot of energy.
“I am still learning how the team reacts to winning and not winning, to playing at home after a Champions League game and I am pretty sure I need time.”
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