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Manchester City's Pablo Maffeo backs Pep Guardiola to end winless spell

Pep Guardiola is in the midst of his longest winless streak but full-back Pablo Maffeo is confident Manchester City will soon be back on track.

After starting life at the Etihad Stadium with 10 straight victories in all competitions, things have gone off track in recent weeks despite City still sitting top of the Premier League.

Wednesday's 1-0 EFL Cup exit at the hands of rivals Manchester United saw City fail to win for the sixth match in succession -- the longest stretch of games without a victory in Guardiola's managerial career.

Saturday's trip to West Brom offers the chance to bring a timely halt to that wait given Barcelona arrive in the Champions League next week.

But 19-year-old right-back Maffeo is confident a victory is just around the corner.

"I think every weekend we need to win and we need to show personality to play,'' the City defender said.

"But it is true we have six games in a row without a win. I think we are going to win and we go in a good way.

"Barcelona is another game. We showed [on Wednesday] we can compete in tough games, very hard games, and I think we can go there and we are going to win.''

Maffeo, like fellow young Spaniard Aleix Garcia, impressed for much-changed City on Wednesday evening.

It was only Maffeo's second appearance for the club, but it was hard to tell given the way he shone at Old Trafford.

"I was a little bit nervous at the start of the game,'' he told City TV. "After it went very good and I am happy with my performance, but unlucky with the result.

"I was nervous before the game but when you get on the pitch and you touch the first two or three balls, the nerves go out. You just play like you are.

"I think it was a very tough game, but we competed, we showed personality.

"The result is bad but I think we showed the personality to play and we can play in those stadiums and in those big games.''