Manchester City are in uncharted territory under Pep Guardiola.
A 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest condemned the Premier League champions to their ninth league defeat of the campaign – equalling their record for most league defeats in a season during the Spaniard’s reign.
And for the first time under Guardiola, qualification for the Champions League is under serious threat.
It is a scenario that was unthinkable as City lifted their fourth consecutive league title last May.
Though a fifth-placed finish could yet provide a Champions League lifeline, there are just five points between fourth-placed City and Aston Villa in 10th as we enter the final stage of the season.
City have 10 matches remaining in their Premier League season.
Guardiola says his side must treat every single game as a “final”, starting with the visit of Brighton, who are just one point behind City, to the Etihad next Saturday.
“We have 10 games to qualify,” Guardiola said.
“We have to win games to qualify and we move on to the next one.
“Every season the Premier League gets better and better. We have 10 finals to come.
“We don’t win enough games in a row to be secure. We have to do something, it doesn’t come from the sky.”
City spent more than £180m in the January transfer window, bringing in the likes of Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush.
But the side’s form has remained inconsistent, with City winning four and losing five of their nine matches since the close of the window.
