Pep Guardiola thinks that Manchester City has been receiving favorable treatment for too long, comparing it to being petted like a cat. The team’s recent loss in four consecutive Premier League games serves as a necessary wake-up call.
City’s current placement is fourth, trailing the leaders, Arsenal, by six points. This is due to their recent draws against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham, as well as their loss on Wednesday against Aston Villa.
“I, as a manager, often crave challenges. It is beneficial for everyone to experience them. It is necessary to go through them. For a while, we have been living comfortably, like a cat [stroking his head], knowing how good we are. But sometimes we need to face the harsh reality and say, ‘Guys, this business is tough.’ We may feel invincible, but suddenly we cannot win a single game. Personally, I welcome these challenges as they allow me to prove myself as a capable manager and help my players overcome difficult situations.”
“It’s a great challenge for the players to say, ‘Aston Villa was far superior to all of us, so just imagine the other teams.'”
Guardiola led City to victory in the Champions League last season, but cautioned about the team’s chances of qualifying for the competition again. He emphasized the need for hard work in order to avoid a potential elimination from the tournament next season. He also acknowledged that the club needed a wake-up call and stated that recent poor performances could serve as a catalyst for improvement.
City’s current streak of not winning is their worst since Guardiola’s first season in March-April 2017, which ended without any trophies. However, Guardiola emphasized that a poor attitude is not the reason for their struggles. He clarified that being complacent means being late to training, not giving your best effort, and not caring about the outcome. He believes that experiencing bad results is necessary for growth and improvement. Losing games helps to gain understanding and ultimately take a step forward. This is the only way to progress.
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Guardiola will once again have Rodri on the team for the upcoming game against Luton on Sunday. Rodri was suspended for the match against Villa, as well as for City’s defeats against Wolves and Arsenal this season. The manager commented on why Kalvin Phillips has not been playing. “I regret my choices for him,” he said. “He does not deserve to be without playing time for even a second, but I have a certain vision and it’s difficult for me to see him in certain situations.”
Source: theguardian.com
