Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed confidence on Monday that his team can still accomplish “very good things” this season, despite enduring a challenging run of five consecutive defeats across all competitions.
Speaking ahead of City’s Champions League clash with Feyenoord on Tuesday, Guardiola remained upbeat.
“I have the feeling that this season we will do very good things,” he stated during his pre-match press conference.
“I don’t give up, and I have the feeling we will be there,” Guardiola stated.
Guardiola acknowledged the pressures of defending Manchester City’s legacy of success but emphasized a focus on commitment and short-term goals.
“You are defending a legacy, a tradition, a success that is so difficult to handle,” he said.
“That’s why I relax.
If we don’t do it, we don’t do it.
It’s just about trying to focus on the short period of time and winning the next games. What I want is a commitment,” he continued.
City currently trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by eight points and face a daunting trip to Anfield next weekend.
In the Champions League, they sit 10th in the group standings after two wins, one draw, and one loss in their opening four matches.
The club has also exited the League Cup.
Despite these setbacks, Guardiola reiterated his trust in his methods, which have brought City four consecutive Premier League titles and a Champions League victory in 2023.
“I want the players in certain departments to be more focused,” he said.
“Step by step, we will come back.
This too shall pass.
Life is like that.
When you think it’s perfect, you are wrong.
It’s going to rain tomorrow.
That’s life,” he stated.
Guardiola emphasized the importance of desire over tactics in the immediate term, saying, “Right now, the most important thing is not tactics; it is to win a game on desire.
By the end of the season, we’ll evaluate whether we need to make changes, but these guys will do very, very good things,” he said.
City’s struggles have been compounded by a spate of injuries, including to star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who missed weeks of action following an injury in mid-September.
Although De Bruyne has since made three substitute appearances, he admitted frustration at being unable to fully contribute during the team’s difficult period.
“I can help the team, but you can only do so much from the sidelines,” the 33-year-old said.
“It’s frustrating because I know if I was feeling good, I could help the team, but I wasn’t able to do that.” he continued.
De Bruyne also described the season as “chaotic” due to injuries affecting the squad.
“I’ve seen so many people around the medical area, sports science; you wonder who’s playing and who’s not playing,” he said.
“There were people who shouldn’t be playing but did anyway with injuries,” De Bruyne continued.
As Manchester City looks to turn their season around, Guardiola remains focused on rebuilding momentum and confidence, starting with their upcoming Champions League fixture.
AFP
