Pep Guardiola has dismissed Ilkay Gundogan's suggestion that Manchester City need to adopt a more straightforward approach.
City lost again on Wednesday, as Juventus beat them 2-0 in Turin. The hosts secured victory with second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie, while City's struggles continue, having won only one of its last 10 games in all competitions - with this being the team's seventh loss during that dismal period.
As a result, Guardiola's team finds itself 22nd in the Champions League table with just two games remaining - away to Paris St-Germain on 22 January and at home to Club Brugge a week later. The teams finishing between ninth and 24th will qualify for a two-legged play-off, but Wednesday's defeat leaves City only one point clear of PSG in 25th.
Following the loss, Gundogan expressed his opinion that City needs to alter its tactics to overcome its current slump. "It’s very disappointing. We had chances to score a few goals but at the moment it feels like every attack we concede is just so dangerous. I have a feeling sometimes we are a bit careless with duels," he told TNT Sports.
"Instead of playing simple we overcomplicate things and we missed the right timing to release the ball. Just lose the ball and give them counter attacks. We are built for possession, keep the ball, be strong, if you can’t do anything don't lose it. At the moment it’s not working out for us."
Guardiola was asked about Gundogan's comments and disagreed. The City boss said: "No, no, we have done that today. Other days no but today we have done it. We have done it really, really well. We didn't lose many balls that happened in the past, we tried and arrived in positions. But we know Italian teams defend so deep and so compact, it is not easy.
"They are a master of these kind of situations. But even with that we played who we are. The result is not there but the performance is. We play good, really, really good. We missed the last part, the last action. We concede a few of course some transition happened. But I'm so proud of these players, they give everything they tried and now we live in this period.
"Hopefully we can change and have a good result. I know it's difficult, it's always difficult in the Champions League. We play perfectly good. We have two games, we need one point maybe. We have to chase a victory. Our three games away were really tough. When we turn it around we will appreciate that period more."