Football: I don’t want to be a happy flowers team, says frustrated Guardiola
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Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring City's fourth goal, and his second, with teammates.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola criticised his players for lacking passion, adding that the club’s supporters were “silent” in an extraordinary rant following their 4-2 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
City fell 2-0 behind by half-time at the Etihad Stadium, facing the prospect of suffering back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time since 2018.
But they roared back, with a Riyad Mahrez double helping them earn victory.
Despite a much-needed win that moved City five points behind leaders Arsenal (47) in the standings, Guardiola was not happy.
“Passion, fire and desire to want to win (was missing) from the first minute,” he said.
“Our fans were silent for 45 minutes. We are far away from the team that we were. There are many things that we are far away.
“It is not one single player, it is everyone. Our fans must push us, must demand more, have to shout. Today we were lucky but nine out of 10 times, you don’t come back.
“I want a reaction from all the club, all the organisation, the players, the staff.
“We are a happy flowers team. I don’t want to be happy flowers, I want to beat Arsenal but, if we play in that way, Arsenal will destroy, they will beat us.”
Guardiola also took aim at critics who say that his lack of a European trophy at City means his overall record in England, where he has won four Premier League crowns, is not successful.
“We have had a lot of success,” the Spaniard added. “We won a lot.
“In this country, to win the league back-to-back titles, twice, with the way we played, with consistency. What is success? I have won a lot.”
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez reacts after he scores their first goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
On Thursday, their hopes of retaining the Premier League title this season were hanging by a thread, as they trailed to two goals in three minutes from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal before half-time.
Guardiola’s men roared back in the second half as three goals in 12 minutes from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Mahrez turned the game around.
Mahrez then sealed the win in the final minute.
Riyad Mahrez scores City’s third goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Despite the frustration of throwing away a two-goal lead, Tottenham manager Antonio Conte insisted he remained committed to the club.
“You never lose this type of game if we had more experience,” said the Italian, whose side have lost six of their last 10 Premier League games and stay five points behind fourth-placed Newcastle.
“We need experience step by step, year by year. We have to continue to work, to improve. We’re really disappointed with the result, we deserved more.
“I’m working very hard because I want to improve the team, to improve the club with my vision, with my ideas.
“I know the task is to try to build a solid foundation and a team ready to fight to win.” AFP, REUTERS
