Pep Guardiola has admitted he is questioning himself after Manchester City's latest defeat left them in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages.
City fell to their seventh defeat in 10 games in all competitions as they beaten 2-0 at Juventus.
Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium left Guardiola's side languishing in 22nd place in the standings.
With just two league games remaining, a place in the top eight and automatic qualification for the last 16 looks beyond City and they have a battle just to stay in the top 24 and a place get a replay.
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Lee Hendrie says Ruben Amorim should copy Juventus tactics against City in Sunday's Manchester derby
City manager Guardiola said: “Of course I question myself but I am steadfast in good times and bad times.
“I'm trying to find a way to do it. I'm very honest. If we play well (I say) we played well and today I thought we played well.
“Our game will save us. We can do it. We conceded very few chances compared to the Nottingham Forest game which we won. We are making the tempo right.
“We missed the last pass, we didn't get to the six-yard box (at the right time) or the tension was at the right time.
“But I love my team. This is life, it happens. Sometimes you have a bad time but I'm going to try until we're there.”
City now face an urgent trip to Paris Saint-Germain, who are also in danger of failure, next month.
Guardiola accepts that the top 24 is now the only goal.
Guardiola has admitted that Man City can only hope to finish in the top 24
He said: “It is the target. We need one point or three points. We will go to Paris to try and do it and the last game at home.”
Veteran midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said after the game that he felt City were suffering from a loss of confidence, but Guardiola dismissed his player's comments.
“I don't agree with Ilkay,” he said. “Obviously it's difficult but, apart from a couple of games in this period, we've been good.
City now face another test of their resolve as they host rivals Manchester United in a derby on Sunday.
Gundogan said TNT Sports: “It (confidence) is a big part of it. That's a mental issue as well.
“You can see that sometimes we miss the ball or lose a duel and you can see that we immediately collapse and lose the rhythm. They (the opposition) don't even have to do much, but it affects us so much right. now.
“Even more you have to do the simple things as well as possible and create and flow, then it's hard work again. This is how you get confidence back – do the small and simple things, (but) in critical moments right now we are always doing the wrong things.”
Juventus coach Thiago Motta was pleased with the hosts' performance, which boosted their hopes of making the top eight.
“It was a deserved win,” he said. “We had to defend as a team and be ready to attack with quality.
“We have shown that we can compete at this level and now we have to do it regularly.”
