Kyle Walker insists Manchester City have not lost confidence despite Saturday's fifth consecutive defeat against Tottenhamwith the captain insisting that beating Feyenoord on Tuesday will restore the champions' “mojo”.
City were beaten 4-0 by Ange Postecoglou's side at the Etihad Stadium, their third league defeat after the losing streak. They remain on 23 points, five behind Liverpool, who can extend their lead to 11 if Arne Slot's team wins at Southampton on Sunday and beats City at Anfield on Sunday week.
Pep Guardiola's team will face Feyenoord in the Champions League. Walker said: “We are going through a rough patch, but we will get through it. We have the characters and the skill more than enough to do it. We will not give up. We have all achieved a lot for this club. It's a new season and we have to go fight for the first division again.
“We have a game on Tuesday; We just need to get a win and hopefully get our mojo back. Do I think we have lost confidence? No, I think it's stupid for us to say that. We just have to start winning again.”
The 34-year-old admitted confusion over the five-match losing streak, the first time the champions have lost so many since Chelsea in 1956.
Walker said: “If we knew what we were doing wrong, we would give them the answers and win games. Obviously we are trying, the boys are giving everything. The injured are giving everything to return and play for the team. Sometimes in football you need a bit of luck, and we probably don't have it right now. We are not the ones making excuses. We know we have to do better for this football club and for mutual respect in the locker room.
“It's football. We can't feel sorry for ourselves, we have to dig deep and look forward to Tuesday's game. It is simply a stage of football that we have not experienced in the eight seasons I have been here. It is time to show character and we will continue fighting as we always have, until the end.”