Guardiola is barely sleeping or eating due to the poor run of results

In recent weeks, Pep Guardiola has maintained a calm exterior, doing his best to project confidence and control amid Manchester City's increasingly turbulent season.

But now, the 53-year-old Catalan has admitted that the strain of the poor results is beginning to take a toll on him, both mentally and physically. Once celebrated for their near-invincibility, City has been dragged into one of their worst slumps since Guardiola took charge, and it’s clear that the uncharacteristic run of form has deeply unsettled the otherwise meticulous and composed manager.

At the end of October, the mood in the blue half of Manchester was entirely different. Guardiola’s team was firing on all cylinders, undefeated in both the Premier League and the Champions League, confidently sweeping aside opponents with their familiar dominance. There was little to suggest that the tide would turn so dramatically. However, a series of poor results since then has seen City spiral into their worst phase under Guardiola’s leadership. Their signature control, tactical fluidity, and ruthless finishing have all appeared to waver, leaving fans and analysts searching for answers.

The latest blow came on Wednesday night when City fell 2-1 to Juventus in Turin. It was a match that encapsulated the frustrations of recent weeks. Despite their dominance in possession, City’s defensive frailties and lack of sharpness in front of goal cost them dearly. After the match, Guardiola took time to speak with his former teammate Luca Toni, who voiced concerns over reports about the City manager’s health. Guardiola, while appreciative of the concern, reassured Toni that he believed the current struggles were temporary. However, the Spaniard candidly admitted that the weight of the situation was beginning to affect him.

“I am someone who sometimes gets nervous,” Guardiola confessed, peeling back the curtain on the emotional toll of City’s recent struggles. “I have bad days, I make many mistakes, and that makes me anxious. Do I sometimes lose my calm? Yes. I sleep worse and struggle to digest my food properly right now. I always need to eat lightly just soup in the evening.” It’s a rare moment of vulnerability from a man whose obsessive attention to detail and relentless pursuit of perfection have defined his career. But Guardiola was also quick to point out that these struggles do not diminish his confidence in his abilities. “I am the same coach I was five months ago, the one who won the Premier League title.”

What sets Guardiola apart is his ability to reflect philosophically on success and failure. “When I’m in a bad mood, it’s not good. But I know it will pass. The same goes for when I’m very happy I know that will also pass,” he mused. These words highlight Guardiola’s understanding of football’s cyclical nature. Even the greatest teams, under the greatest managers, face adversity at some point. Guardiola knows that this season will be a test of character, not just for him but for his squad. “This will be a year full of challenges,” he acknowledged. “We need to find consistency. But if we manage to advance to the next round of the Champions League, it will not be easy for anyone to play against us.”

The immediate focus for Guardiola and his team is to stabilize their season and restore the confidence that has been sorely lacking in recent weeks. That process begins with the Manchester derby on Sunday, a fixture that always carries immense weight for both clubs and their supporters. For Guardiola, the match represents both an opportunity and a challenge an opportunity to reignite his team’s season and demonstrate that City remains a force to be reckoned with, and a challenge to overcome the pressure that has been mounting with each setback.

Manchester City’s current predicament is particularly striking when juxtaposed with Liverpool’s form at the top of the Premier League. City now trail the league leaders by eight points, a gap that feels significant given Liverpool’s consistency this season. Guardiola knows that any further slip-ups could make the title race all but unreachable. The derby, therefore, takes on added importance not just as a local grudge match, but as a potential turning point in their campaign.

On the other side of Manchester, however, things are far from harmonious. Rúben Amorim, recently appointed as Manchester United’s manager, is also under pressure to deliver results. United’s struggles have been even more pronounced, with the Red Devils languishing in 13th place, a staggering eight points behind Guardiola’s side. Despite United’s position, Guardiola will be all too aware of the unpredictability that comes with derby matches. Form often matters little in such high-stakes encounters, where passion, pride, and emotion can overturn any perceived advantage.

Guardiola, for all his stress and sleepless nights, remains committed to steering City back on course. His track record, after all, speaks for itself. Few managers in modern football have been as successful or influential, and City fans will hope that this current dip is merely a bump in the road. Guardiola’s ability to rally his squad, instill confidence, and demand the highest standards has been at the heart of their dominance in recent years. As the Manchester derby approaches, all eyes will be on Guardiola and his players to see whether they can rise to the occasion and reclaim their form.

For Guardiola personally, the stakes are just as high. The pressures of managing at this level are immense, and his admission of sleepless nights and dietary struggles offers a glimpse into the human side of a man often seen as football’s most methodical genius. The coming weeks will be a true test of his resilience, but if history is any guide, Guardiola will find a way to navigate through the storm. Sunday’s showdown at the Etihad could mark the beginning of City’s resurgence or deepen the crisis further. Either way, it promises to be a defining moment in their season.