Manchester City manager insists problem against Real Madrid was decision-making on the pitch not team setup
Pep Guardiola says it is easy to have a manager’s tactics criticised if they do not win, in a passionate defence of his tactical choices after Manchester City were beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League.
City were comprehensively defeated at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday night, where Federico Valverde struck a hat-trick to leave the English champions facing a daunting task in the second leg.
Guardiola opted for an ultra-attacking formation in Madrid, pairing Erling Haaland with Antoine Semenyo up front and playing Jeremy Doku and Savinho to the left and right wings respectively. The decision drew scrutiny after City failed to score despite dominating possession and spending long spells in the attacking third.
Ahead of Saturday’s league trip to West Ham United, Guardiola made clear he had little interest in revisiting the debate over his selections.
“I had to explain it [team selection] before and after? After 10 years? I would not convince you one second, any one of you, anyone,” Guardiola said before City’s visit to West Ham on Saturday. “Why? Because we lost 3-0, destroyed, yeah it’s normal. It’s not personal, believe me, it’s all the managers.
“It’s not the first time I played in that competition, the Champions League, 17 years playing in that competition, and every time I lose, boom, my God. Pew, pew, pew [users fingers to mimic firing bullets]. A lot. Is it new? No, it’s OK.
“The storm passed in one day, now West Ham, and prepare for [the second leg on] Tuesday. And if Tuesday we will be out, we’ll be: ‘Ohhhh, I have a lot of fans in the media’. Don’t worry. Supporters, a lot of fans, I have a lot, so it will happen.
“It’s OK, it’s fine. I have to do my job and my best, honestly. Knowing that if we win, it’s good, and if we lose it’s bad.”
Despite the heavy scoreline, City actually enjoyed the bulk of the ball in Madrid and registered far more touches inside the home side’s penalty area. Guardiola suggested the problem was not the team setup but the decisions of his forwards in the key moments.
“The players in the box have to make a movement before the pass, to smell where the ball will go,” said Guardiola. “You make a movement, beat your man before the ball [is played] and you will score. It’s guts and nose, that is the question for them – that is all.”
Haaland’s inclusion alongside Semenyo appeared designed to revive the striker’s recent form. The Norwegian has scored only four times in his last 17 appearances, though he has historically thrived against West Ham, netting 11 goals in seven matches against the London club.
