Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has expressed his continued trust in his players despite their unprecedented five-match losing streak. The recent 4-0 loss at home to Tottenham was a crushing blow for City, particularly so soon after Guardiola signed a new two-year contract with the club. The defeat marked their heaviest home loss since 2003 and the first time they had lost five consecutive games since 2006, prior to Sheikh Mansour’s ownership, which heralded an era of success for the club.
Guardiola, who has never experienced such a losing streak in his managerial career, remains resolute in his belief that his team can turn things around. “I trust these players more than ever,” Guardiola said, emphasizing that every player aims to perform at their best and never intentionally underperforms. He acknowledged the pain and frustration felt by his team, stating, “When they are in front of 60,000 people they want to perform well. But for many reasons, it hurts.”
Despite the poor run of results, Guardiola is determined to find a solution. With a crucial Champions League match against Feyenoord scheduled for Tuesday and an important Premier League clash against Liverpool next weekend, Guardiola faces a difficult challenge. The absence of key players, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and midfielder Mateo Kovacic, has left City vulnerable, particularly in defense. The team’s defensive frailties were evident in the Tottenham match, where City struggled to contain Tottenham’s quick attacks, which targeted their full-backs and created central defensive issues.
Tottenham’s attacking duo, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski, exploited City’s defensive weaknesses, and Kulusevski described the victory as the highlight of his career. Guardiola admitted that City was not solid enough at the moment, stating, “We are not solid enough, that is the truth.” However, he remains optimistic that the team is showing good form in certain phases of matches. He pointed to missed opportunities, such as Erling Haaland’s early chances, as potential turning points in the game.
Guardiola also hopes that injured players like John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake will return to fitness in time for the crucial fixtures ahead. With better options in central defense, he believes the team can restore confidence, particularly among the full-backs like Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol, who have also struggled recently.
Despite the challenges, Guardiola remains committed to his team. “When we started to lose, I said to people, ‘we have to find a way,’” he explained, underscoring his responsibility as a manager to navigate through difficult times. With relentless determination, he continues to trust his players and is confident that they will eventually turn their fortunenes around.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0