‘We’ve lived like a cat’ - Pep Guardiola uses bizarre analogy to explain Man City’s poor form but claims he ‘needs’ four-game winless run as a wake-up call

The reigning English champions have been far from their best in the recent past. They have slipped to the fourth spot and find themselves six points behind leaders Arsenal after losing against Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Guardiola believes that they have stroked gently like a cat on its back for a long time and it is time they wake up to realise that this is business time.

Speaking to reporters after the Villa defeat, Guardiola said: "As a manager I sometimes need that – I need that challenge. For a long time we’ve lived like a cat [stroking his head] and [known] how good we are. We need it to say: ‘Guys this business – it’s terrible.’"

Guardiola guided City to a historic treble in the previous campaign but warned his players that if they do not pull up their socks then they might not qualify for the Champions League next season. But they have time on their side to turn the tide and once again challenge for the title. Titles are won and lost in May and it is still early December with more than half of the fixtures yet to play for.

City will next travel to Kenilworth Road to take on Luton Town on Saturday. Rob Edwards' men are still licking their wounds after Declan Rice put a dagger through their hearts with a 97-th minute-winner and they will looking to hurt City, especially when they are down, with a raucous support from the 12th man in the stands.