Pep Guardiola refused to concede Manchester City's Premier League title defence was over and urged his side to respond from a third defeat in their last four Premier League games after losing 2-1 at Leicester.
Photo: AFP Leicester City's English striker Jamie Vardy vies with Manchester City's English defender John Stones during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Manchester City at King Power Stadium.
Goals for Leicester from Marc Albrighton and Ricardo Pereira saw Guardiola's men slip seven points behind league leaders Liverpool and down into third in the table behind Tottenham.
Yet Guardiola saluted the performance of his players so far this season and tipped them to remain in the title race with Liverpool, who City host on January 3, and Spurs if they match the number of points they have accrued in the first half of the season.
"Today we have finished the first half of the season and we have an incredible amount of points," said Guardiola.
"In a normal situation we are fighting to be champions. If we make the same number of points in the second part of the season we are fighting to win the Premier League.
"But the reality is there are another two teams and they are better."
Guardiola admitted, however, that his side's confidence had been dented by defeat at Chelsea in early December followed by back-to-back losses against Crystal Palace and Leicester.
"Good results make miracles in the mind," he said.
"All the game is in the mind. We are the same ones, we practise the little details the same as we have done during three years together.
"So now there will be doubts but what we have to do is try to change the dynamic to win games and make good performances.
"But we are able to do that. I never doubt them. With the joy and pleasure in how many things they have done in the recent past – not a long time ago – I will never doubt them.
"I have to reflect and think about what the team needs and how to help them."
