Pep Guardiola laments Manchester City’s decision-making in Brentford collapse
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An animated Pep Guardiola shouting at his Manchester City team during their 2-2 Premier League draw with Brentford.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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LONDON – Pep Guardiola has said that Manchester City’s lack of care with the ball was the reason for their late collapse from 2-0 up to draw 2-2 at Brentford in their English Premier League clash on Jan 14.
Phil Foden’s double had put the English champions on course for a fourth consecutive win in all competitions after a miserable run of one victory in 13 games.
But defensive deficiencies and difficulties in holding on to leads have been a consistent theme in a difficult season for Guardiola’s men, and once again they experienced those issues.
Brentford created chances throughout the game and took them in the final 10 minutes through Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard to hit back for a deserved point.
“Long balls we won and we could run but in that moment, we didn’t take the right decisions. Today we didn’t take the right decision in the final third,” said Guardiola.
“Maybe the game would have been different but at the same time, they had chances. Their strikers are really good, Wissa and (Bryan) Mbeumo are really dangerous. Since Brentford have been promoted to the Premier League, always they are really good in set pieces, long balls and they are so quick.”
City were again without injured key centre-backs Ruben Dias and John Stones, while captain Kyle Walker was not included in the squad after asking to leave the club earlier in January.
Guardiola also blamed the fact that he was missing his vital players for his side’s late capitulation, adding: “At 2-0 we have to close it but we don’t have those specific players to defend in the box, so we have to do it by controlling the ball.
“They put six, seven players in the box, crosses, and sometimes they are better... and there are more players, they are taller, they are stronger in (heading). The fatigue against Brentford in the last 15 minutes is normal. I don’t have anything to regret. Recover and go to the next game.”
The Spaniard was seen engaging animatedly with Stefan Ortega after the final whistle, simultaneously berating and hugging his German goalkeeper, who got a strong hand to Norgaard’s equaliser but could not keep it out.
“I said how good he played in actions with the ball, how good his pass (was) to Erling (Haaland), how happy and satisfied I am,” Guardiola explained.
Despite his positive words about Ortega, there was no denying his disappointment at throwing away another lead and dropping two more points.
“What I missed today especially was that we didn’t take the right decision in the final third, in the actions where we could run, and in that moment we didn’t take the right decisions,” Guardiola reiterated.
A point leaves City still sixth, two points adrift of the top four and 12 behind leaders Liverpool, who drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest, ahead of the fixtures on Jan 15.
AFP, REUTERS
