Post by Webster on Apr 14, 2023 18:36:20 GMT
(The Guardian) Guardiola: If Manchester City lose tomorrow, title race is over
Are Man City at their best now?
“In consistency, yes. We are winning games and games … but we were not consistent [earlier in the season] … and everybody knows if we lose games, we lose competitions … Tomorrow [against Leicester], if we lose, we will not be champion … we are six points behind Arsenal.”
Has he done anything differently this season in the search for consistency?
Guardiola initially looks confused and somewhat offended by the question. Or maybe he just can’t hear it. “What?? No. They [City] are second-best team for consistency in the league. Not bad at all … our performances in general have not been a disaster … we are there because we have done many good things. In sport, when there is one that is better than you, you have to accept it and keep going.”
Arsenal have fewer games – will that matter in the title race?
“Honestly I don’t know,” Pep replies. “Sometimes in our experience, when we have games every four days, we are very focused, in the rhythm, we are focused, it helps us. Sometimes we lose the rhythm … when you have games Wednesday, Saturday, the minds are always here [points at temple] … when you have two days off, sometimes we lose this type of feeling. In six, seven weeks, everything is over. The players will do everything to keep going.”
“The only impact [of experience] is the fact that everybody knows: if we lose, it’s over. It’s the best way to compete … in every action, the players are living here. We have to win that ball, win that action … and that is when you have the best [level of performance].
“Experience? Does it count? I have doubts if it counts for a lot. I need more years to understand, like Roy Hodgson, 74 years, to understand if it really counts.”
Are Man City at their best now?
“In consistency, yes. We are winning games and games … but we were not consistent [earlier in the season] … and everybody knows if we lose games, we lose competitions … Tomorrow [against Leicester], if we lose, we will not be champion … we are six points behind Arsenal.”
Has he done anything differently this season in the search for consistency?
Guardiola initially looks confused and somewhat offended by the question. Or maybe he just can’t hear it. “What?? No. They [City] are second-best team for consistency in the league. Not bad at all … our performances in general have not been a disaster … we are there because we have done many good things. In sport, when there is one that is better than you, you have to accept it and keep going.”
Arsenal have fewer games – will that matter in the title race?
“Honestly I don’t know,” Pep replies. “Sometimes in our experience, when we have games every four days, we are very focused, in the rhythm, we are focused, it helps us. Sometimes we lose the rhythm … when you have games Wednesday, Saturday, the minds are always here [points at temple] … when you have two days off, sometimes we lose this type of feeling. In six, seven weeks, everything is over. The players will do everything to keep going.”
“The only impact [of experience] is the fact that everybody knows: if we lose, it’s over. It’s the best way to compete … in every action, the players are living here. We have to win that ball, win that action … and that is when you have the best [level of performance].
“Experience? Does it count? I have doubts if it counts for a lot. I need more years to understand, like Roy Hodgson, 74 years, to understand if it really counts.”