The defending Premier League champion signed off on 2024 with a battling 2-0 win away at Leicester City.

It marked only a second victory in City's last 14 games across all competitions, as Guardiola celebrated 500 matches in charge.

Guardiola is expected to be backed by the City hierarchy in the mid-season window - despite his indication after the Leicester game that a title challenge is over - and the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss wants "help" to reduce the pressure on his injury-hit squad.

"In some positions we need help," he said. "When we're all together we're the team we were but with important players out for weeks and months it's so difficult."

City is fifth, 14 points behind league leader Liverpool, and Guardiola has given up any hope of retaining the title.

"We are far away from winning the Premier League," he said. "We accept there's already no chance of that but we have other things to fight for: FA Cup, top four, and winning games helps that."