Pep Guardiola has predicted where Manchester City will end the campaign if they fail to improve on their poor first-half display against Aston Villa.

Despite the 3-0 victory against Villa at the Etihad Stadium Guardiola felt his team underperformed and he believes if they continue in such manner they will be relegated at the end of the season’If we play like we did in the first half, we will be relegated or in the relegation positions,’ he said after second-half goals from Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan secured victory.Guardiola: ‘One word I hate is the word ‘complain’, so normally when I say something not nice it’s after a victory. I would never say it after a defeat.’We were punished in some defeats and I shut my mouth, I didn’t say anything, so it is what it is.’It is understandable that Manchester City is being rocked by injuries and that has forced the manager to use players out of their preferred positions in recent times.

Fernandinho is forced to cover up for Nicola Otamendi in the center-back, the Brazilian midfielder was sent off against Villa and he will subsequently miss the Carabao Cup against Southampton on Tuesday.Guardiola said: ‘For the short term we can handle it. For a long time, I don’t know.’And of course against top, top, top, top teams, when you don’t have players playing in their own position, I don’t know what’s going to happen.’But before it’s going to happen I’m not going to say it’s a disaster or what a pity.’