Pep Guardiola shook the press room on Friday in a pre-match conference, on the eve of the boiling derby between Manchester City and Manchester United.
The Spanish coach delivered a powerful analysis of the results crisis his team is going through, pointing out the major absences, in particular that of Rodri, described as the “club’s Golden Ball”.
For Guardiola, injuries and suspensions of his executives, like Phil Foden or Rodri, are the main causes of City’s slowdown this season. “Without them we are playing without the best player in the world and the best player in England. It’s as if the Chicago Bulls had to win without Michael Jordan,” he insisted, emphasizing the impact of absences on the Sky Blues’ performances.
Asked about a possible transfer window in January to compensate, the tactician dampened fans’ expectations. “We don’t have the money to buy just anyone. I want to find the full squad, not pile up recruits,” he concluded. A clear message: Guardiola is counting on his current group to turn things around, even if the urgency is felt.
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