Pep Guardiola has claimed he is ‘not good enough’ in a bombshell interview after Manchester City’s latest setback.
The champions were on the end of a dramatic late turnaround in the as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against bitter rivals Manchester United.
Quickfire goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo snatched all three points for Manchester United to add to Guardiola’s misery.
City have now won just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions and the Spaniard did not hold back with his post-match assessment.
Speaking in a media huddle after the defeat, Guardiola said: “Well, controlling the game was not in the situation that we had before the final of the game. Even with 2-0 or 3-0, we were not in control. So look what happened against Feyenoord or with 3-0 up, and at the end, we could not win the game.
“That will help us to be qualified for the next round. We are not playing in the way we always played, in terms of the position and being there…
“And we are struggling a little bit. But in the moment, sometimes you have to take the results, get the games, to lift your mood. And we were close, except for one action from Bruno Fernandes, that Anthony Taylor again conceded an incredible foul for Jeremy Doku, that required a mega transition. They didn’t create much.
“They had a little more ball in the first second. After we changed the shape, the pressing was a little bit better. And yeah, the problem was, I would say that we gave away again. But the reality, the reflection I have right now, I’m not good enough.
“So I’m the manager. Because it’s one action, it’s every single player, every single action. I will fix it. But it happened many times, something is, I’m missing.
“The truth is I’m missing. So, and I had the feeling that, always I found a way, you know, to even the feeds, to find a way, to say to the players, to tell to the players, to the training, the preparation. Always I had the way to get back. Now I’m not.
“Now I’m not… I didn’t expect it before. Of course, by the fact that when we were winning, I never spoke that I could not leave, you know…
“So I was a football player. I win with Barcelona many times and after it was a disaster season. So that is not the question. Of course, I will be honest, I could not expect to lose eight to ten when we were a team.
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“Like maybe, I say, we lose eight games in one season or two seasons. But, but like I didn’t expect that it was, you know, now is not the moment, no, it’s part of the game and have to move forward.”
It did not stop there for Guardiola, who added that his players need to ‘relax’ to turn their form around.
He continued: “The players, they try it, but they have to find a way. Always when we won, you never ever will see one core different. Like I said all the time, that belongs to the players. They play.
“I was able to give them the confidence and the process and visualise that it’s going to happen. And good chemistry, a good group. And now I miss it. I miss something that I cannot help the players.
“And they have to relax. And I’ve never done it. So I never went over as a spectator. And in bad moments I go to the managers.
“Listen, I’m where I am. I’m not judging the other ones. I go to them and say, no, we lost four players. They had one.
“They had the club. No, I don’t like it. This is…
“So I’m the boss, you know? I’m the manager. You know, Pep has created something and I have to accept the other one. Now the media and everything is that. It’s part of my job.
“I have to accept it. But it’s not about that. I can handle it. I was a football player in Barcelona.
“I had depression since I was 18, 19 years old. I know today, tomorrow will be the sunrise again. I’m not able to find, you know, with the interior and the big, big clubs like this club it is. Because this area, this group of players make the greatest history of this club.
“Always we find a way, you know? And now I’m not. So this is the truth.”
Sunday’s loss follows a defeat to Juventus in the Champions League in midweek to leave City’s hopes of advancing in the balance.
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Guardiola’s side are 22nd in the league phase table, just a point clear of the elimination spots.
Meanwhile, they sit fifth in the Premier League and are now nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool.