He can’t find a way to win again. City entered Tuesday after losing five consecutive games, and confirmed his bad moment in the final minutes of their Champions League match against Feyenoord. The light blues, who were winning 3-0, made a series of errors in the last quarter of an hour that caused them to lose two points. Guardiola, in the subsequent press conference, was unable to explain how his team could squander their advantage. The Catalan said that his team simply cannot find a way to win a gameand avoided pointing out the individual errors of his players. Especially those of Gvardiol, who cost City two goals.
Do you think it was unprofessional for your players to allow themselves to be tied in the final minutes like that?
I don’t need to send them any messages, they know the situation perfectly. It is what it is, it is difficult to get the idea. It was a good match. We scored three goals and we could have gotten more, but in the end we gave away the first goal and then we were not stable enough and we couldn’t win. It’s not about how much the players run or how committed they are, in football you win at specific moments. Grealish could have scored at the end but he hit the woodwork, what can we do?
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How can you boost your team’s morale ahead of the game against Liverpool on Sunday?
It has to be done. Today we couldn’t maintain control in the last minutes. Everyone knows the situation we are in, we simply have to recover and start preparing for the next game. It’s going to be a tough season for us. We have to try to avoid mistakes.
Do you understand that the stands booed you at the end of the game?
In the last game they were applauding us when we lost 0-4. It is clear that they are disappointed, we have to understand that. People don’t come here to celebrate past successes but to see their team win and play well. They always encourage us, they have every right to express what they feel.
It’s already been six games without winning, how do you feel?
Disappointed, of course. We were winning 3-0 until the last minutes, it was perfect. Feyenoord was waiting, we gave them the first goal and then things got complicated.
What do you think of Gvardiol’s performance?
He is very young, he will learn. He was the best player on the field, it would be a mistake to point out specific flaws. He is a fantastic player.
Do you think your team has a hard time reacting when they receive a blow during the game?
Yes of course. We want to win, that’s why we play so well in certain aspects. We generate many opportunities, many. We already did it against Tottenham and lost 0-4. We have always conceded few goals in recent years and were quite consistent, but now it doesn’t happen. I don’t remember that Feyenoord created much danger in the first half, but we are not able to close out the games and every time they came they scored against us.
What were you thinking when you made the three changes in the second half?
That the result was not in danger, they were not attacking us. Aké had just been injured and did not want to leave him during the 90 minutes, and Gündogan is the only holding midfielder we have. I also wanted De Bruyne to pick up the pace. The game was going well, I didn’t think we would lose.
At least your team didn’t lose this time, do you take anything positive from the draw?
We are not capable of winning. During the last few years we always found a way to win, always a different way. Today we won 3-0 but not much else happened. We were in control, but we no longer won.
He has a cut on his nose, how did he get it?
With the nail. I did it to myself with my fingers… I want to hurt myself.
A tweet to explain
On this Wednesday morning, Guardiola has published a tweet to explain himself for this latest statement about self-harm and assure that he did not want “downplay such a serious problem.”
“Last night, at the end of a press conference, I was surprised with a question about a scratch that had appeared on my face and I explained that a sharp nail had accidentally caused it. My answer was in no way intended downplay the serious problem of self-harm. I know many people struggle with mental health issues every day. and I would like to take this moment to highlight one of the ways people can seek help, by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing [email protected],” the text reads.
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