Pep Guardiola is “very pleased and excited” that Manchester City will compete in the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia over the next several days.

The treble winners enter the competition on a losing streak, having dropped points in five of their past six Premier League games to slide to fourth in the table.

They return to league action on December 27 after playing Club World Cup matches on Tuesday and Friday, when there might be a significant gap between them and the top of the standings.

Guardiola was asked if the competition in Saudi Arabia had come at the worst possible time for City after his team was beaten to a 2-2 draw at home by Crystal Palace on Saturday, and he replied, “No – we love to go to play the (Club) World Cup.”

“You have to win the Champions League to go there.” Of course, I’m quite happy and anxious to go there and strive to win it.

“The schedule is what it is, the results are what they are and you have to accept it.”

Guardiola emphasized that City must “win games and depend on ourselves” in the league.

Prior to Saturday’s game, they drew 4-4 with Chelsea, 1-1 with Liverpool, 3-3 with Tottenham, lost 1-0 to Aston Villa, and won 2-1 at Luton Town.

City conceded late equalizers in matches against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Palace; on Saturday, after City led 2-0 and Jean-Philippe Mateta brought a 76th-minute goal back for the visitors, Michael Olise leveled with a penalty in the fifth minute of added time.

When asked why they couldn’t finish off games, Guardiola remarked, “I would like to know,” adding, “Don’t give away that penalty, and the game is over.” “The last few minutes, 2-1…we need to control it better.”

City’s trip to Saudi Arabia will begin with a semi-final match against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday, followed by the final and third-place play-off on Friday.

“The Champions League is absolutely more important,” Guardiola stated.

“However, you must be present to participate in this tournament, which we have never played before.” And we’re going to fly there, see how the setting is, and play as well as we can against Urawa to earn a spot in the final.

“Of course it’s lovely. Years ago, we couldn’t have imagined being there, and now we are.”