Pep Guardiola happy with Manchester City half-term report, despite dip in standards
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Manchester City's Erling Haaland (left) and Kyle Walker look at trophies on display ahead of City's Premier League match against Sheffield United.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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LONDON – Pep Guardiola said Manchester City have largely met his targets for the first half of the season, despite failing to hit their usual heights.
A 2-0 win over Sheffield United
City also clinched the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup for the first time in the club’s history, but lost out on the Community Shield to Arsenal on penalties.
“I felt at the beginning of the season, qualify for Champions League (knockout stage), win the three trophies – we won just two – and in the Premier League, just be there,” said Guardiola.
But before heading off to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup earlier in December, Guardiola’s men had won just one of their previous six Premier League games.
“We could have had more points for the way we performed,” he added.
“The position we are in is more than fine. We are going to lose games, they are going to lose games. We’re trying to lose as few as possible.”
City won five trophies in all in 2023 as they claimed a treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup last season.
Before kick-off at the Etihad, all five pieces of silverware were on display and Guardiola was able to reflect on a year to remember.
“We saw the five trophies today. It was really nice. We are so satisfied, so proud,” said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss, who won two Champions Leagues with the Spanish giants.
“Now they are there in the trophy cabinet. Huddersfield (Town in the FA Cup) next.”
Manchester City's Kyle Walker stretches for the ball during the Premier League match against Sheffield United.
PHOTO: AFP
That positivity was not there at half-time, leading the City manager to tell his team at the break to smile a bit more to secure victory.
While City had bossed the first half and led through Rodri’s early strike, Guardiola detected negative vibes among his players as they entered the dressing room.
“(We were) uncomfortable the last three times we were here,” he said. “The first part was silent. The body language of players didn’t communicate, talk, laugh or shout. It was a little bit, ‘okay we have to play’.
“At half-time, for the first time I didn’t talk one word about tactics – I took a chair and said ‘guys when you go out with a smile on your face and enjoy, we are going to win’.
“In the second half, the first 15 to 20 minutes were the best minutes we had, and that helped us win the game.”
Julian Alvarez wrapped up the points as City brought their epic, treble-winning year to a close with a stress-free win.
But Blades manager Chris Wilder said the 90 minutes felt like an eternity for his players, as they chased shadows for almost the entire game.
“It felt like we played football for about five hours,” said Wilder, whose side remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
“At the start, when you are walking out, and you see five trophies, it hits home to you and what you are up against.” AFP, REUTERS
