Appearing dejected and short of ideas in the heart of a depressing winter, Pep Guardiola has never lost the confidence of Manchester City, and this patience is starting to bear fruit, just before the poster this Tuesday against PSG.
The multi-titled coach started the current season like the previous ones, piling up victories and goals. But the winning machine stalled spectacularly between the end of October and Boxing Day on December 26.
During this interminable period, the reigning four-time English champions have won only one of their thirteen matches. To be joined by the Feyenoord (3-3) after leading 3-0 until the 75th minute, at the end of September at home, finished depressing the conductor.
“That’s when Guardiola really said to himself: ‘oh my God, this is worse than I thought’”summarized with theAFP Simon Bajkowskiclub follower for the newspaper Manchester Evening News.
The Spaniard fails to right a drifting ship, weighed down by numerous injuries, starting with that of his Golden Ball and stabilizing defensive midfielder, Rodri. “I can’t find a solution (…) I’m not good enough”he will go so far as to say mid-December.
“After covering Guardiola for all these successful years, it was fascinating to see how transparent he was about his feelings. He sort of invited us to witness his attempts, and his failures, to get things back on track.”rembobines Bajkowski.
However, he adds, “even though the results were catastrophic, the club never lost faith in Guardiola”. His harvest of past titles has certainly helped him, but above all he is “always considered the most likely to revive the team”.
-Lineker for support
At the height of the crisis, the supporters did not let him go, the club’s staff extended his contract (until 2027) and the media largely spared him.
“If you doubt Pep, you are a fool”for example launched Gary Linekerstar presenter of the show Match of the Day. “Pep will turn things around, I have no doubt about it. The question is just when”he declared on December 28, on the eve of a match against Leicester.
These words took on a premonitory dimension since the 2-0 victory against the Foxes began the recovery of Mancunianswhose record shows four victories and a draw before facing Paris.
“PSG are a much tougher opponent than Brentford or Ipswich”nuance Bajkowskiin reference to the last two matches played (2-2 draw then 6-0 victory). “But I think for the first time in a long time the performance was there and the attacking threat was there. City will face Paris with a confidence they wouldn’t have thought they had a week ago.”says the journalist.
HAS Ipswich, Phil Foden et Kevin De Bruyne have regained their splendor, for example, and Guardiola made him smile again. “It’s much better”appreciated the manager. “Maybe not our best (level), but we’re getting close.”
THE Citizens see the light at the end of the tunnel and hope to further improve a season that has gotten off to a bad start. After all, they are still in the running in Champions League and only six points from second place in Premier League.
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