Home SPORTS Pep Guardiola on Manchester City's Season: 'We'll Be Back'

Pep Guardiola on Manchester City's Season: 'We'll Be Back'

Read
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City's Pep Guardiola on throw-ins, injuries, and title hopes



Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola remains confident about his team's Premier League title prospects, despite trailing Arsenal, and shares his thoughts on long throw-ins and injury concerns.


“We'd have to buy a player with strong shoulders and arms to put the ball in (to the box) and we don't have it...” 


Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remains confident that his team can challenge for the Premier League title, despite trailing leaders Arsenal by three points after eight games. Guardiola believes that the true picture will only emerge deeper into the season.


Guardiola poked fun at pundits who wrote off City's title chances after a slow start to the season. “In the first two, three games we were done and now it looks like Liverpool are done,” Guardiola said tongue-in-cheek. “I'll tell you that we will be back.” He emphasized that it takes around 10 to 15 games to know what's happening in the title race.


Guardiola also addressed the injury uncertainty surrounding midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who was taken off with a foot injury against Villarreal. Additionally, he discussed the growing trend of long throw-ins, a tactic City has largely avoided. “We'd have to buy a player with strong shoulders and arms to put the ball in (to the box) and we don't have it,” he joked. Guardiola acknowledged that several Premier League rivals, including Brentford, Tottenham, and Arsenal, have successfully employed this tactic.


“In the first two, three games we were done and now it looks like Liverpool (who are third after three consecutive losses) are done,” Guardiola said, tongue in cheek. “I'll tell you that we will be back.


“I've said many times that the pundits, the specialists, the former footballers know what's going to happen after five games — I'm not able to do that.”


“Ten, 15 games to know what's going on. Liverpool and Arsenal are there, someone else will be there and hopefully we can be there,” he told reporters on Friday.


Pep Guardiola believes it will take time to get a true sense of the team's form, with the picture becoming clearer as the season progresses.


Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City's injured players, including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, will not be available for the upcoming match. Rodri has been out with a hamstring injury since the October international break and remains sidelined.


Nico Gonzalez's availability is uncertain after he was substituted off with a foot injury during Manchester City's midweek Champions League win over Villarreal. Guardiola revealed that Gonzalez will undergo further assessment to determine the extent of the injury.


“I didn't see the doctors,” Guardiola said. “We'll see today and tomorrow how he feels. It was something with his feet.”


Pep Guardiola joked about Manchester City's reluctance to use long throw-ins, a tactic that has become increasingly popular among some Premier League teams. “We'd have to buy a player with strong shoulders and arms to put the ball in (the box),” he quipped.


"We'd have to buy a player with strong shoulders and arms to put the ball in (to the box) and we don't have it,” he joked. “Before we had Kyle (Walker) and we didn't use him.


“It's a tendency in many clubs, it's like a corner and it's not easy. Brentford do it, Tottenham and Arsenal as well. It doesn't matter if I like or don't like. It's a weapon and we have to adapt.”



Tags :

No comments:

Leave comment here

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )
Powered by Blogger.