Guardiola opens up on how Man City crisis is affecting him in alarming interview

Pep Guardiola has truly been feeling the effects of the worst run of his managerial career, and has now revealed to a former teammate how it is affecting him off the pitch

The Spaniard's troubles were truly highlighted during City's Champions League game versus Feyenoord a few weeks ago.

City let their three-goal lead slip, much to the frustration of their boss, who shocked fans by arriving at his post-match interview with painful-looking red scratches all over his head and a cut on his nose.

Asked in his press conference what caused the scratches, he replied: "Yeah, my finger here. My nail. I want to harm myself."

He later apologised for his remarks, saying: "I was caught off guard with a question at the end of a press conference last night about a scratch which had appeared on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused this. My answer was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self-harm."

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But it appears his friends are beginning to notice a difference in the usually calm and collected boss too.

Former teammate Luca Toni was on media duty for Amazon Prime Italy as he watched City and Guardiola's crisis deepen with a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

He interviewed the manager after the game, noting how he has looked 'nervous' and 'unrecognisable' on the sidelines at times this season.

"I was lucky enough to know you as a man," said former striker Toni, who played alongside Guardiola at Italian club Brescia.

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"I remember a Pep Guardiola who after two training sessions in Brescia came to me and said, 'Can I make you two crosses to kick at goal when training is finished', you saw I was kicking so badly, but you said it with humility.

"Now you see certain videos where you look almost nervous, unrecognisable. You got your nails done…."

Guardiola replied: "I have a skin problem. I have to take antihistamines for two, three years. The nails, yes I did them on my nose. But the rest was that.

"I am a person who is nervous sometimes. Yes. I have bad days, I mess up a lot, rudeness makes me nervous. Do I lose my mind sometimes? Yes."

Asked by Toni how he has changed from before, Guardiola added: "I sleep badly and I don't digest, I always have to eat light. Only soup in the evening.

"I am the same coach as I was five months ago. The one who had won the Premier League title, and I don't go against my state of mind. If my state of mind is ugly… it is ugly. But I know it will pass.

"The same is true when I am overjoyed. I know it will pass.

"Sometimes you don't need to be a great team to be happy or enjoy when things are going well. Now the situation we are going through…

"Now there are no coaches or players or companies that don't go through one or two bad months. It can happen. What can go worse or worse or worse? Losing, losing, losing. What do they do? Do they send me home? I go home.

"What can one do in life? Accept it as a normal thing. One has to accept it. It is life. Life doesn't always go the way one wants."

When asked if City will be able to recover from their poor form, Guardiola said: "This year I don't know.

"I sincerely believe that it will be a year with great difficulties. We have to find continuity. But if we make it through, it won't be easy for someone to face us."

The 2-0 defeat to Juve leaves City with just one win from their last ten matches across all competitions.

Guardiola's side dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last week, leaving them fourth in the Premier League, eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

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City's recent poor form has been attributed to injuries, with key players Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, and Phil Foden sidelined, impacting the team's performance.

And it's not going to get any easier - City's next game is against local rivals Manchester United.