PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s press conference before Chelsea in the Premier League
The Catalan coach spoke about the feeling after beating Real Madrid and potentially winning the league against Frank Lampard.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola say down in front of the press ahead of this weekend’s game against Chelsea in the Premier League. The Catalan coach comes off the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid in the Champions League, which puts the club one game away from the continental glory that has evaded the Abu Dhabi-backed City project for so long.
“It’s non stop”, Pep said when asked if he had calmed down since the win over Madrid, “of course we are satisfied to play the Champions League final. It’s non-stop, now the most difficult thing is coming. Tennis players say to serve to win Wimbledon is the most difficult one. On Sunday, the game is in our ands to win the most important competitions. It’s 10, 11 months, every week. We’re lucky to have the chance to finish at home with our people. We have to take it.”
Guardiola says his team ‘can’t get distracted’
Guardiola was asked about his focus on the Premier League, given that they are so close to achieving the Champions League for the first time since he joined City: I have good memories. Emotions are many things. We cannot be distracted. We will not forgive ourselves. We will focus on every single game until the end of the season to finish well.”
The next question came about City delivering in big moments. Beating Real Madrid was seen as a huge hurdle that they have finally overcome, unlike last year when, in a dramatic turnaround, Madrid managed to sneak past. “We have done it many times”, he said, “we cannot deny it: the Champions League semi-final, against the best team in this competitions. They have done 11 semi-finals in 13 years. Doing it against them gives us confidence and credit. We have done it against Arsenal, Liverpool, [Manchester] United, the big teams at home. We feel we are strong, confident with our [fans].”
“As a manager, I feel part of something”, Guardiola responded when asked about City finally closing in on another league title, his fifth with the club. “I never think it belongs to me. I’m part of it; we cannot deny that without the incredible decisions of the sporting director, board, the players are the most important thing. Being close to winning it again, in our hands, after last weekend, I’m really pleased. I’m not the only person when we lose semi-finals or finals.”
De Bruyne often shouts at Guardiola in training
During the City game, Kevin De Bruyne was seeing shouting ‘shut up’ at Guardiola, which caused a huge reaction after the game from fans and pundits. “The action with Kevin I love it, we shout at each other. I like it”; Guardiola said to calm the tension. “Sometimes it’s a little bit flat, I like this energy. It’s not the first time, you don’t see, but he shouts at me in training. This is what we need. After that he becomes the best.”
Guardiola simply said ‘no’ when asked if this title meant more. “We cannot say the titles against Liverpool were easier. Not at all. The top six were closer. Newcastle are one game away from Champions League: I saw them against Brighton, to see how good they played, Newcastle deserve to be there.”
Guardiola was asked about the tactical evolution of the season, something that has been under the spotlight all year. The tricky question ended with Guardiola being asked if this season was the most difficult tactically. “Sometimes evolving the team depends on the opponents and their problems they create. You cannot play 7 years the same way. Because one you have different players we used to have a false 9 now we play with Erling. And two defenders don’t play the same way because they know you, they discover secrets. They do a counter system you have to create another one.”
‘I love myself a lot’, says Pep
“Now Liverpool play with Alexander-Arnold inside, they played all the time with him on the outside, now he’s inside”, he continued, “opponents found a solution to them attacking, now they find a solution. Maybe opponents find a solution to Alexander-Arnold inside. I’d love to say we play the same way all the time, but it doesn’t happen.”
Did you ever doubt your ability to do it in England?, Guardiola was asked: “I love myself a lot”, he batted back. “I never thought. I love myself a lot, I think we do a good job. I arrived with no expectations, to do whatever you want. I could not imagine, with the players and people here, to do what we have done in the Premier League. I realised after 5, 6, 7 games in the PL, how tough is that. Learn quick, players and teams. Every day was a little better, try to arrive a little better. Doing better than yesterday, the players feel it and we can achieve it.
‘We can celebrate something unique’
“You never know the start of the season how it’s going to be. Now we know, three games to win all the titles. How we prepare and arrive as best as possible to these games [is important]. Every game we win helps for the next one. Winning the league as quickly as possible helps the next games, the FA Cup and Champions League. I want to see the team still focussed. The biggest compliments when you win, a disaster when you lose. We cannot forget the reality.
“The reality is Manchester United, Aston Villa... Chelsea didn’t do the season they could imagine but it’s Chelsea. The players are there, I’m not confused about the table. If we perform like the last weeks, we will be there. We can celebrate something unique, at home not away. Football is emotions, if we can do it at home we have to do it.”
