Pep Guardiola praised his Manchester City players following their victory over Tottenham on Thursday.
After criticizing his players for a lack of desire last week, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that he will only leave the club if he loses the dressing room. The Sky Blues rallied to defeat Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, but Guardiola was unimpressed and chose his moment to deliver a reality check.
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was the first to point out that City’s players lacked the same desire that has carried them in recent years, following a shock Carabao Cup exit against Southampton earlier this month.
Guardiola concurred following a remarkable victory against Spurs, which saw City win 4-2 after going into the break two goals down. The former Barcelona boss has enjoyed huge success since moving to the Premier League, which he believes has contributed to his side’s recent downfall.
“I won four Liga titles in Spain in a row [with Barcelona] and it was not the same going for the fifth,” he explained. “I was not starving enough — too much caviar! Real Madrid beat us to the league that year.”
Guardiola is said to have met with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak after his post-Tottenham rant, in which he called out fans and said Arsenal could ‘destroy’ them. “I understand how my players feel, but I’m here to put a stop to it,” he said. “The chairman is aware of this.
“I want to be here; otherwise, I would not have signed [a new contract], but losing the team means losing something. I am unable to attend. The club must make progress. These goals, such as the second against Manchester United, are unacceptable. More often than not, our fans want the second half against the Spurs. This is what we must do.”
City fans were eager to learn whether Guardiola, who had been in charge for nearly seven years, would sign a new contract at the Etihad. He did so earlier this season, committing his future to Manchester until 2025, extending what is already his longest tenure at a single club during his distinguished managerial career.
The Catalan coach will be hoping that his eye-catching comments inspire something in his players, as Arsenal currently lead the table by five points despite having played one fewer game. Guardiola will keep a close eye on his former assistant and current Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, as he oversees a crucial match against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal were not considered serious title contenders before the season began, and City increased their chances of success by allowing Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to join them for a combined £77 million.
Guardiola, on the other hand, insists that he has no regrets about letting the pair go, saying, “Of course, Erling Haaland coming in was difficult for Gabriel, but it happens and it was a good deal.”
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