Manchester City have received reassurance that there is no need to panic over Pep Guardiola's potential departure despite their recent run of results.
Losing away against Aston Villa was the ninth defeat in their last 12 matches, a run during which City have only won once. They sit seventh in the Premier League table this Christmas, four points outside the top four and 12 adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
Guardiola acknowledged the team "struggled" at Villa Park, admitting their pressing game was "not good enough". With every defeat, there is growing speculation about the manager's future, with some conjecture that the Catalan coach could resign.
However, Guardiola committed his future to the club only a month ago by signing a two-year contract extension. The former City defender Joleon Lescott has dismissed any talk of their manager walking away anytime soon, even amidst the team's current woes.
Speaking on TNT Sports post-match, he said: "I don't think Guardiola is anywhere close to resigning. He's someone who thrives on a challenge. He will see this as a challenge. I don't think he's anywhere close to thinking about resigning."
Fellow pundit Peter Crouch concurred with Lescott's view. "I think he stays. I think he leaves when he wants to. It's whether he can turn it around."
Crouch also praised Guardiola's impact: "The man's a genius. He's changed the face of football in this country.
"He's not had this test anywhere he's been. He's one of the greatest we've ever seen. You'd expect him to turn it around."
However, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker has now ruled out the reigning champions defending their title, stating: "I think you have to (write City off in title race). They're not showing signs of title-winning form."
City have been off the pace in the Premier League title race so far this season - handing an opportunity to Arsenal and Chelsea to end their long wait to win England's top division. The battle is sure to go down to the wire, however, and there are bound to be plenty more twists and turns before the end of the season.
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