Pep Guardiola has emphatically said he has no regrets over his decision to extend his stay at Manchester City, despite his team's recent slump, and has blamed the gap to Liverpool solely on their injuries.
Since penning a fresh two-year contract during the international break last month, City have stumbled, securing only one victory in six outings.
Yet, Guardiola is brimming with determination to navigate through what is the most challenging period of his illustrious 14-year managerial career.
"Absolutely not," he declared, when asked if he has any potential regrets. "I would regret leaving now. I could not sleep, even worse than now, if I thought I was leaving them in this situation. Impossible.
"They could sack me, it can happen, but leaving now, no chance. If my boss Khaldoon is not happy with me, they can do it. But leaving now in this position, no chance. No, no, no."
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Guardiola, who could complete an impressive 11-year spell at City should he see out his new deal, insists that he will know when it's the right time to step aside.
He doesn't feel compelled to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, which came on the back of a record 20th Premier League title for Manchester United in 2013 after 27 years at the helm.
"When I feel it’s time to leave, I will leave," Guardiola said. "What we have done, we have done. The satisfaction to do it is done.
"I don’t have any targets to make my time here any different, impossible. It’s not me saying I will never leave until I win another Premier League or Champions League.
"That is accomplished, the way we played, the numbers and everything. But, now in this situation, I could not leave."
Guardiola is acutely aware of the pain his City side are experiencing as they gear up to face United in the Manchester derby at the Etihad, having lost seven of their last 10 games.
He's determined to halt their downward spiral and is confident that a turnaround is imminent - arguing City would be closer to Liverpool if not for injuries and the limited time between matches.
"We’re not the best right now because we don’t have the players," he continued. "Otherwise, we would be closer to Liverpool my friends.
"But now we maybe realise how difficult it was what we have done and we will come back of course. When we come back, it will be, Wow! We won’t forget that moment because we want it and we’re not able to do it.
"But I have to analyse a little bit the reasons why. There are things that I need to train, I need to practice for the players to improve. I need to practice, but when?
"Normally when you have a game, the day after is recovery and they train, the players that didn’t play the day before. But we have seven, eight, nine players out.
"We have made a lot of mistakes, but we don’t have time. We have to practice. To be a writer, it’s not necessary to read books, you have to practice to write a novel, at least, unless you are William Shakespeare!
"After that, you don’t need anything." Guardiola also expressed frustration at City’s fixture schedule, pointing out that their season could extend until mid-July if they make it to the final of the new FIFA Club World Cup in the US.
"All the managers depend on the quality of the players," he said. "We’re here to support them, but now because of the problems we have, it’s a crazy schedule.
"Rodri played 75 games last season. When he finished, he was at the Euros to win with Spain. He got injured with Spain and came back here. He had one, two games so do you feel he was fresh for this year? No.
"I promise, as strong as Rodri is, he came back tired, not on top. The reason why is the schedule. Give them one month-a-half, two months holidays. They’ll be perfect. After that they can play 80 games if you want."
