Pep Guardiola prepared to quit Manchester City if he fails to get players back onside - 'We don't have it'
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Published 22/01/2023 at 10:47 GMT
A week on from the loss to Manchester United, Pep Guardiola is still concerned about some of his players. He pointed to his time as a player at Barcelona for a possible reason as to why Manchester City are not performing at the peak of their powers at present, and has said his aim is to get his men back on track - otherwise he could be forced to walk away.
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Pep Guardiola has admitted he understands how his players could have lost desire, and said he may be forced to move on from Manchester City if he cannot get them back on track.
A frustrated Guardiola appeared to throw in the towel in the Premier League title race following his side’s loss to Manchester United last week, before rowing back to an extent in his post-game press conference.
Things looked grim at half-time of their game with Tottenham on Thursday, as they trailed 2-0. But a stirring comeback secured a 4-2 win and got them back within five points of leaders Arsenal - albeit having played a game more.
City face Wolves at home on Sunday, and Guardiola feels his players are still lacking hunger - something he can relate to from his time at Barcelona.
“I won four Liga titles in Spain when I was a player, four in a row, and the fifth [season] was not the same and the sixth was not the same. I was not starving enough. [Too much] caviar, [Real] Madrid beat me,” Guardiola said. “I understand [the players] but I am here to [motivate them]. The chairman knows that.”
Guardiola added his desire was to keep securing success at the Etihad, but said walking away would be the only course of action if he cannot get his players onside.
“I want to be here but if I lose the team, I cannot be here,” Guardiola said. “We are second in the table, we are not 25 points behind Arsenal, still we are there – 57 points still to play [for].”
Guardiola, who has led City to four Premier League titles, cited Arsenal as the example for his players to follow.
“The club has to move [back in the right direction],” he said. “These goals we gave them – unacceptable against Liverpool, unacceptable against United. We don’t have [that certain] something.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on January 19, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom
Image credit: Getty Images
“They [Arsenal] have everything, all the pieces. They defend 10 players in the box, five in the back, six in the back, good transitions, win duels and look at how they celebrate a goal, how they talk, look at each other, communicate. This is football. We don’t have it.”
While he is upset with some of his players, Guardiola lavished praise on Jack Grealish, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji for their performances against Spurs.
“Have you seen Jack Grealish, to go down and tackle and every time do it? Nathan, for example, or Manu to win the duels there? Every game has to be like that,” he said. “That is how we did 15 wins in a row, 18 wins in a row [in previous seasons].”
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