Pep Guardiola told critics of his unorthodox Manchester City tactics to be patient, as he launched a passionate defence of some of his recent decisions regarding key players. Guardiola has moved Bernardo Silva to left-back in the last week, and when he described his first-half tactics at Arsenal this week as ‘horrible’, many took that to refer to midfielder Bernardo playing out of position. In the second half, Nathan Ake was introduced and Bernardo returned to the front line, instigating City’s important victory. However, Guardiola insisted the ‘horrible’ comment was not in reference to Bernardo, as he insisted those who doubt his tactics are not in full possession of the information and ideas he has.
Pep Guardiola said: “I didn’t say that. I said the general aspect of how to figure out the game didn’t work. But not because Bernardo played at left-back. I didn’t say that. Bernardo as a full-back is more aggressive in the duels than Fabian Delph or Zinchenko. [The horrible tactics] were because I defend with wingers inside not outside. If it works I am brave, if it doesn’t work I am overthinking. Arrogant. ‘What is Pep believing, changing tactics?’ Why don’t you play Kevin De Bruyne all the time? Why don’t you play the other ones? Because Kevin De Bruyne cannot play all the games. He needs to be fresh here [in the head]. When I take a decision, I have to believe it.”
Delving deeper into the idea of moving Bernardo back into defence, Guardiola doubled down on his assertion that he should be allowed to field a system that he believes without as much criticism as he sometimes gets.
Pep Guardiola said: “When I think about we have to put a left-back to completely control [Bukayo] Saka, I would not put Bernardo Silva there. I would put Nathan, a central defender proper,” the manager explained. I put Bernardo there because I want to control them. I want to dominate and I thought with Bernardo we would be able to do it. It happened, maybe not, I don’t know. But I have to feel it. All the decisions I take are always in that sense. In the case of Bernardo, why should you be surprised when Fabian Delph played left-back and people said ‘he is an attacking midfielder, why are you playing him there?’ Aleks [Zinchenko] is a number ten and people ask why he plays there. But when I win the Champions League – ‘Pep is a genius’. If it doesn’t work this guy is overthinking. ‘What does he believe? With the squad he has he is an arrogant manager – he comes here to invite and change football’. I win or I lose but in every decision there is an argument. In every one. If I need build-up in the left-back and it’s the most important thing, Aymeric Laporte is going to play every single game. Sometimes I need a defender to defend in the box and Ake and Ruben [Dias] are the best. I try to argue, the players don’t buy this argument, they want to play every single game, it doesn’t matter what happened. But I know the qualities. When I want runners in the attacking midfielders I will put Phil [Foden] or [Ilkay] Gundo. They are better than Kevin when he is closer to the ball. When I want more control I will play Bernardo. Sometimes for the way the opponent defends, the form and many things, I need a specific player to do this or that. That is why they play. I have more info and I understand the players better than the people who don’t understand it. If people say the tactics were bad, any manager, not just me. Do you know the tactics I thought of? To say it is good or bad you have to know the idea or the decision. I will say it was horrible, I will admit, no problem at all. But to say it was the bad idea or to play this player in that position – did you know the tactics I thought? Did you know how the opponent plays? If you don’t know it then cannot tell it, you have to wait.”
