Manager insists he remains “positive” and will fight until it’s no longer possible to win the league
Pep Guardiola has conceded that Manchester City’s lack of cutting edge this season has derailed their chances of a strong finish to the campaign.
The latest chapter in City’s painful narrative unfolded at the London Stadium, where City controlled but possession for most of the game but managed just a single goal and six attempts on goal in total. The disappointing 1-1 draw leaves them trailing league leaders Arsenal by nine points.
“Football is unpredictable,” Guardiola said. “They have one chance and score one goal, but it’s happened in the past. Always this season we’ve had a team that’s controlled many aspects, but we were not able to score three or four.”
City’s coach also noted the many examples of games this season when his have controlled the game but failed to translate that into points. He specifically recalled the New Year’s Day match against Sunderland and the draws against Chelsea and Brighton.
“I remember Sunderland on the first of January; we played outstanding and created chances,” Guardiola said. “Then after against Chelsea, then Brighton, and today.
“We have a lot of new players and maybe that’s why we aren’t consistent for 90 minutes, we have ups and downs. Games like Nottingham Forest define us a little bit because last minute Savinho shoots with no goalkeeper and no goal. It’s happened many times, we didn’t score enough goals. I accept it.”
Guardiola praised his team’s character but insisted they have had issues with creativity unlike in previous seasons.
“I’m so proud of these players after a trip to Madrid, a tough result and then come to London and fight, fight, fight until the end,” Guardiola said. “In the end we need creativity with cross, shoot, dribbles but we have struggled with that a little this season.
“There are a lot of new players and the consistency we had in the past, this season we weren’t able to get it. You saw Newcastle the way they played against Barcelona and won at Stamford Bridge and the momentum they have, we were able to beat them four times but we were not stable.
“And in the last decade we have always been stable and found a way to win the games. This season, we have played better than I expected in the beginning, but we were not able to find the spark.”
When pressed on whether the title was still attainable, Guardiola said: “It’s complicated. Win against Nottingham Forest and today and it would depend on us, but we have one game in hand and Arsenal at home.
“Always I’m positive. I’m positive about Tuesday at home. When it’s not possible [to win the title], they will have to celebrate, and I will call Mikel to congratulate him.”
