Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has addressed concerns over his team’s defensive approach during their recent clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. City, known for their possession-based football, had only 32% possession, a significant departure from Guardiola’s usual style. This tactical shift led to questions about whether Guardiola was moving away from the successful formula that has defined his tenure at the club.
Pep Guardiola said: “When we won the Premier League we were a boring team, right? So that’s why I said ‘okay, I’m going to make counter attacks more this season.’ Maybe the players in the future can talk about how much I’ve changed this season. Maybe they are the ones who have the most credit to talk if I really changed approach, because they are in every meeting, every game, every post-match meeting. You can ask them. Completely. What’s changed is that the opponents play differently and we are not able to do it better. I said after the game that Arsenal were better.”
Guardiola continued: “I don’t like to play the way we played at Arsenal but there are a lot of things that I loved, that I didn’t have in the past. Always I believed, when I started as a footballer under Johan Cruyff, that when a team goes man-to-man… he would say ‘Pep, when you have the ball as a holding midfielder, look at Romario, look up front’. Why should we go shorter if that guy is being marked and this guy is being marked? You have to play up there, one against one. If you want to play one against one with Erling [Haaland] then play one against one. If you lose that duel, it will be a goal.”
He added: “Read that situation [to see] if we have one more player in the process. For example, we changed the way we played against Napoli? [No.] Three days later we changed our way to play? F*** I’m really good, I changed absolutely everything in three days! I must be a really, really good manager. Sometimes the opponents are good and create a challenge that we cannot handle. Until I retire in this club or retire, I would love to play in the way I want to play. Sometimes we are not good, sometimes the opponent is better.”
Guardiola’s comments highlight his commitment to his footballing philosophy, emphasizing that while the team may adapt to specific challenges, the core principles remain unchanged. He pointed out that the match against Arsenal was an example of adapting to circumstances rather than a permanent shift in strategy. Guardiola also referenced the recent match against Napoli, suggesting that his approach remains consistent despite external perceptions.
The City manager’s remarks underscore his belief in maintaining possession and high pressing, even as he acknowledges the need for occasional tactical flexibility. Guardiola’s ability to adapt while staying true to his principles has been a hallmark of his success, and he remains steadfast in his vision for Manchester City’s style of play.
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