Pep Guardiola accepts blame for Manchester City and Erling Haaland's slump

Pep Guardiola has accepted the blame for Manchester City's recent downturn in form and the break in supply to Erling Haaland up front.

The champions have fallen eight points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League after winning just one of their last three games in the competition.

That sequence includes last Saturday's frustrating and controversial derby loss to Manchester United while City also slumped to an unexpected Carabao Cup quarter-final loss at Southampton a week ago.

City mustered just one shot on target across the games against Southampton and United while Haaland, scorer of 27 goals already this season, has not found the net in his last three outings.

City manager Guardiola, whose side will look to get back to winning ways against Tottenham on Thursday, said: "We have our game, we have our principles (but) the way we played in last two games didn't help Erling to score.

"We have too many players outside and too few inside. Without players inside you cannot defend and you cannot play good, especially in the final third.

"In the build-up you can be wider, but in the final third you have to have players in the middle. If Erling is not there we are not going to score goals.

"In the past we have always had incredible movements in the final third, in the small spaces. Now, in the last two games, we haven't had it. I would say it was my fault. I didn't make them understand the way we have to attack.

"We need runners, not just Erling. If we had just Erling he would be controlled by two or three central defenders. We need more players in those positions, definitely. We have done it. We have to do it more often."

Guardiola accepts the onus is on him to make sure City are meeting the expectations people now have for