Pat Nevin feels Pep Guardiola has two options facing him as Manchester City struggle in the Premier League.
The manager admitted that City's title aspirations are at an end after a resounding 4-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday which leaves the Sky Blues outside the Top 4.
Team selection, tactics and an inability to cure defensive problems have led to pressure being piled to the Catalan coach, having arrived in the Premier League on a wave of expectations following an ultra successful time in charge of boyhood club Barcelona and a trophy filled time at Bayern Munich where the only medal missing was a Champions League one.
"He's got two options. One option is to keep on doing what Pep loves to do which is the purity of the football. It ain't working," said Nevin as the ex-Everton winger joined Off The Ball to reflect on the fallout from the 4-0 result.
"So if he keeps on going down that road, then it's failure and you'll probably not get in the Top 4 or may not get in the Top 4.
"What's the other option? You change, you adapt. You don't necessarily go the full Mourinho and go long ball, but you adapt, you change and you do something completely different because you're in a different environment.
"Pep can't cope with that because of the purity of his personality. So he can't do that either. The reason why he's stressed is because he has nowhere to turn now. I'm looking at him and thinking 'you're struggling, mate' because there is no option. You must change the personnel and the team and the system and the methodology."
In terms of the wider title race, Nevin believes that he "wouldn't be surprised" if it ends up being between Chelsea and Tottenham, with the possibility of Arsenal going on a run to put themselves right in the mix.
But on Liverpool, he feels it's "tougher" for them in comparison to their rivals due to a lack of squad depth directly coupled with a demanding style of play in and out of possession.
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