Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted that his defending champions have “no chance” of lifting the Premier League title this season, turning his focus instead to Champions League qualification and the FA Cup.

Guardiola released this bout of pessimistic realism after watching his side earn their first away win since October. Goals from Savinho and Erling Haaland helped the Cityzens overcome a struggling Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, although their unconvincing performance was not reflected by a straightforward 2-0 scoreline.

A much-needed victory following a run of one win from 13 still leaves City a yawning 14 points adrift of league-leading Liverpool. Faced with the reality of the table at the season’s halfway mark, Guardiola told BBC’s Match of Day: “We are far away from winning the Premier League.

“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.”

City were painfully vulnerable throughout a wasteful display from the Foxes, prompting Guardiola to rightly describe Leicester as “much better” than his side for large swathes of Sunday’s game.

The beleaguered Catalan coach has previously insisted that the “solution” to City’s problems is simply waiting for his fleet of injured players to recover. However, the relentless churn of the Premier League affords little time for recuperation – particularly when the individuals that are fit soon follow their teammates into the treatment room.

Guardiola has claimed that an active approach in the January transfer window is a necessity given his side’s injury crisis. “In some positions we need help,” the manager stressed once again following the weekend win.

“I thought central defenders would be fit all season but we have struggled – holding midfield and central defenders we need help. The market is the market – it’s not easy, it’s expensive so we will see what the club can do.”

City have been linked with several midfielders, all of whom would command a considerable financial outlay to prise them away from Europe’s elite in the middle of the season.