'I don't have the players!' - Pep Guardiola makes worrying admission as he reveals Man City stance ahead of January transfer window

Guardiola is facing the worst run of results in his 17-year career as a manager, which has left City fourth in the Premier League and eight points off the pace of leaders Liverpool having played one game more. They are all the way down in 22nd in the Champions League standings after losing 2-0 at Juventus on Wednesday, having won just two of their six games in the league phase, and face a scrap just to qualify for the knockout round play-offs.

City have the resources to bolster their squad in the January transfer window after revealing stellar financial results which include record-breaking revenue of £715 million ($903m) and profits of £73.8m. However, Guardiola claimed he was more concerned with getting his many injured players back rather than buying new ones.

"What I want is my players back, the players that we have I will love desperately to compete with the squad that we had at the beginning of the season," Guardiola told a press conference. "I said many times. This is the only regret that I have; I don't have the players. These players, not new ones. But in the certain moment, the right moment, we will see.."

Guardiola has just three defenders - Kyle Walker, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias - available for Sunday's derby with Manchester United, as John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake are injured and Rico Lewis is suspended after getting sent off against Crystal Palace. Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season while Mateo Kovacic has been out for the last month, although he was on the bench against Juventus and could feature in the derby. Guardiola explained: "I don't know what to do. Maybe some wingers have to play as a full-back, or Matheus maybe can play as a full-back, or maybe play with five-at-the-back with wing-backs as wingers. I don't know. But the soul and the spirit of this team is there."

City face local rivals United in one of the most fascinating derbies in recent years, with both Manchester clubs really struggling for form. The Red Devils have won three of their six games under new coach Ruben Amorim and are currently 13th in the Premier League table. "It's a football game, the same points, emotionally for our fans, all of us staying a long time here, it's a little bit special," Guardiola said. "But in these types of situations, and these type of games, the less emotional you are, you will be better."