Guardiola Admits Shortcomings Following Man City's Derby Defeat to United
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Manchester, Dec 16 (NationPress) After Manchester United rallied from behind to secure a stunning 2-1 derby win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola has placed the blame on himself for the defeat, stating he is not good enough.
City squandered a 1-0 lead, ultimately suffering a 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the closing moments of Sunday’s Manchester derby, marking a continuation of their challenging results.
"The results are not good, and the performance was not extraordinary. I am aware of the situation; I comprehend it, but the truth is this," Guardiola expressed to BBC Match of the Day.
"They need to understand that these situations can occur. In the box, you must exercise caution. It's not solely about Matheus (Nunes, who gave away the penalty); he performed admirably in an unfamiliar full-back role. However, it’s not just that; we must improve our play. The outcome will eventually lead us to our best, but presently we don’t have it. My learning process involves perseverance.
"I’m not good enough. I am the leader, the manager; it’s my responsibility to discover solutions, and thus far, I haven’t. That is the reality. We wish to enhance our performance and generate chances. However, at this moment, that seems unattainable," he added.
Guardiola's team has now faced defeats in eight out of their last 11 matches across all competitions, causing them to drop to fifth place in the Premier League, trailing leaders Liverpool by nine points.
Nonetheless, the head coach noted that certain aspects of their standard gameplay are absent, and he must identify these shortcomings to steer his team back to success.
“This is something we are lacking. Winning games elevates the energy levels. This is my role. My responsibility is not just to win matches and collect trophies," Guardiola stated during a post-match press conference.
"I am exceptionally well compensated to manage these circumstances. Perhaps in a year or a year and a half, we could afford to lose eight games - but now, in just one month and ten days, we have lost eight out of 11.
"We were at the top of the league and the only unbeaten team in Europe (prior to this streak). We are a prominent club; I am here due to our past achievements. Otherwise, clubs wouldn't retain their managers.
"Every manager globally works harder, thinks deeper, and communicates more. I must remind them that we are still very proficient. I anticipated a challenging season, even during our winning streak, but I didn’t foresee it being as difficult as it currently is," he remarked.
