Pep Guardiola offered a candid and at times sarcastic assessment of his team’s performance following Manchester City‘s hard-fought 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. The Catalan coach admitted his side were second-best and robustly defended his uncharacteristically defensive tactics in the crucial Premier League clash.
An admission of inferiority
Forced to defend deep for long periods, City recorded their lowest-ever average possession in a top-flight league match under Guardiola. After the game, the manager did not hide from the reality of the performance. “I think the result is fair,” he stated. “It’s a little, ‘Ah we were close’, but I think in general Arsenal was better.” He acknowledged his team’s struggles at both ends of the pitch, adding, “Of course, it’s so difficult when you’re not effective in high pressing, and not effective in build-up.”
Defending the ‘park the bus’ strategy
Guardiola, famous for his possession-based philosophy, was asked about his team’s relentless defending. “I suffer! I don’t like it! I want the ball away, away,” he admitted. He even joked about the rare tactical shift. “One time in 10 years is not bad, right?” he quipped when asked about ‘parking the bus’. “Now I am a transition team, you know that?”
Praise for a top opponent
The City boss justified his cautious approach by praising the quality of the opposition. “Guys, Arsenal is a team that fought for the last two Premier Leagues, arrived in the semi-final of the Champions League, and not just us who invested money, they did as well. It’s so tough! And we were there!”
Guardiola’s comments paint a picture of a manager fully aware of his team’s current limitations and the strength of their rivals. His willingness to sacrifice philosophy for pragmatism at the Emirates is a sign of deep respect for Arteta’s Arsenal, and a clear indication of the fine margins in this season’s title race.