Pep Guardiola explains his mentality shift at Man City amid Liverpool FC pressure

Pep Guardiola says he is a better loser now as Manchester City again aim to hold off the challenge of Liverpool.

City lead their Merseyside rivals by three points with 12 games to go in the Premier League, with neutrals hopeful of a repeat of the 2018/19 slugfest that saw the pair duke it out until the final day of the season.

Guardiola would not be in the role that he is if he enjoyed losing, but the coach has been more than satisfied this season with how his players have risen to the challenge of fighting again for the title after so many years together and so much success. Whatever the outcome at the end of the season, the City boss will not change his mind about the group that he has to work with.

On top of that, Guardiola also feels more serene about his role than he did previously. While he may still cut an animated figure on the touchline in certain games, the manager has learned to accept defeat more easily.

"I’ve spoken many times to the players: focus on our job," he said. "If it is enough to be champions then good, if not then congratulate Liverpool.

"As I get old, I’m learning to enjoy my profession – to be more supportive than ever. I accept the defeats in a more natural way. I don’t like it, because I don’t sleep well after a defeat, but I accept that the other ones can beat you. They can be better than you. You have to improve, that there is still a margin to do better that we are still not doing.

"I enjoy it. I’m not so dramatic, like: 'we are going to lose the Premier League.' What’s the problem? The problem is how you behave and how you are as a team, knowing that we want to win it – we want to do it. When we don’t do our best we will be in trouble, the guys will be in trouble with the manager."

Guard