After the fierce duel between Manchester City and Arsenal in the 5th round of the English Premier League, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gave a detailed analysis and comments on the injury of the team's core De Bruyne, as well as the tactics of the game and the performance of the opponents in the post-match press conference.
Regarding De Bruyne's injury, Guardiola said, "I don't think his absence will last long. Although I can't say exactly how long he will need to rest right now, and I don't even know if he will be able to play in the next game against Newcastle United, his injury is not serious, and it's mainly a leg discomfort. We're keeping a close eye on his recovery and are hopeful that he'll be able to return to action as soon as possible."
Guardiola appeared quite calm and rational about Arsenal's behavior of doing their best to stall for time during the game. He argued, "During the game, we should focus on our performance, defend well and focus on achieving our game plan. We know exactly what tactics our opponents will use to deal with us, so we have to stay calm and focus on what we want to do, rather than being distracted by our opponents' small actions. We are a solid team and we will only focus on the game itself and not other things that are out of our control."
Guardiola also emphasized the importance of the rhythm of the game: "We must understand the game and keep the rhythm and shape of the game. On the field, we have to let the game go at our pace and not be led by the opponent. I think we did a good job in the game, we understood the importance of the game and accepted the challenge from Arsenal. Now, we have 99 points to fight for, so let's wait and see what happens next."
In addition, Guardiola also expressed his confidence and expectations of the team: "We know the level of our competitors, we know they are a very good team. But we also have enough strength and confidence to meet their challenges. I am confident that my players will continue to work hard and strive for better results in the upcoming matches. We still have a long way to go, but we will work together to bring more exciting games to our fans."
