2 hours ago
50
Manchester City drew with Arsenal at the Emirates but Pep Guardiola was delighted with the spirit his team showed.
Pep Guardiola admitted he was surprised by Manchester City's back-to-the-wall performance at the Emirates after a determined defensive display came within a few minutes of a huge three points at Arsenal.
City had their lowest possession share since Guardiola was appointed manager but came within a whisker of capping a superb week with wins against Manchester United, Napoli, and Arsenal.
Despite the late heartbreak inflicted by Gabriel Martinelli's injury-time goal, Guardiola oozed pride in the performance of his team, although he admitted he suffered on the touchline watching his team battle their way through the game.
The Blues had led early through Erling Haaland but were unable to hang on. Guardiola was emotional as he approached the away end at full-time, a situation partly brought on by his daughter's presence among those supporters.
But having watched his team defend so well, Guardiola said he didn't necessarily see it coming as they were forced back.
"That surprised me too" he said of his team's efforts. "Like Napoli have done against us, 10 against 11, this resilience. I said we were not able but we made a step.
"I want to be honest: it’s nine new players from January. Today our goalkeeper is the man free. To arrive in the last stages, we have to improve. I want to be closer to the team like Napoli and some moments when it was 11 against 11, and against United than today.
"But it’s a compliment to Mikel, they are good. Hopefully in the second game at the Etihad we can do something much better to control, to create more chances."
When told that this was his lowest share of possession as City boss, Guardiola joked: "I cannot live in this country with another record, so I'm so proud of that. I give a lot of credit to Arsenal for what they have done, a lot of credit.
“Arsenal was better in that term, so we don't want it but sometimes it happens. Okay, one time in 10 years is not bad, right? So it was good. I have to prove myself again for another strategy. Now I'm a transition team."
Guardiola was delighted with the spirit his side showed, digging in to try to protect a lead at the end of two games in four days. Arsenal had an extra 48 hours to prepare after playing in the Champions League on Thursday.
The Catalan identified an absence of spirit as an issue last season, but the way his team performed this week has given him the feeling that it is returning. However, he did say he had found it difficult watching his side having to defend so deep.
"I suffer. I don’t like it. I want the ball away, away. I want it to be close to Raya not Gigi," he said. "The opponent did good things. We have to improve.
"It’s the body language, how we celebrate, how we communicate, how we make an effort. We lost it a lot this season. I said I don’t give a f*** about the results, I want to see the spirit back in the training sessions and us enjoying.
"After that is tactics. We lost it last season and we had to recover. This week we have recovered. We have to continue. And from there we will, learn the process, the tactics, our way we feel more comfortable to win games and be proud of ourselves."
TV cameras picked up Guardiola shedding a tear at the end as he applauded City’s travelling fans and he explained why that was.
“I was looking for my daughter. When everybody went home to drink a good beer I saw my daughter,” he said.
“I say to the team how special fans are, the tickets, travel, the effort to come. You have to have huge respect for them."
English (US) ·