As the clock strikes 4:00 a.m., December 12, Beijing time, Manchester City will embark on an away journey to challenge Juventus in the 6th round of the UEFA Champions League. In this tense moment, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was interviewed by TNT Sports, giving an in-depth analysis of the team's recent situation and his personal opinion.
Guardiola said bluntly, "Admittedly, with our current squad, we have room for improvement. Although there are a few big players return, but the loss is equally significant. Difficulties are everywhere, but also a litmus test for our team, players, coaches and even the whole club. It's time to show what we're really made of."
Talking about the team's mentality, Guardiola confessed, "I have no criticism of the team's mentality, but I can't operate on the players' inner world. Regaining confidence is the team's top priority. Losing a game may be perceived as an unstable mentality; while if you score a goal at the last minute, it proves that the mentality is tough."
On how to get out of the rut, Guardiola emphasized, "We should focus on the performance and the way we play, not the result. The process and our style of play will lead us out of the rut, not the result itself. We must always focus on our own strengths, the potential of the team and the positioning of the team."
Under the aura of four consecutive titles in the Premier League, Manchester City's current form is staggering. Guardiola lamented: "It is not easy to win the title four times in a row, or even six or seven times. But all teams go through ups and downs, and our life today is no different from normal people. The only difference is that we have won 11 trophies, which is our pride."
Guardiola also mentioned, "I expected this to be an extraordinary achievement. There is no team in history that hasn't gone through a downturn. It is possible. We just have to turn around and realize that we have to do more. The next two weeks are crucial and we will make adjustments and go all out for every game."
Finally, Guardiola responded to the outside world question: "Some people may say, 'Manchester City four titles in hand, how can it be easy to defeat?' But the problem is that your perception is wrong. Because of course we may lose. Soccer is like this, there is no eternal winner, there is no eternal loser. We need to stay calm and keep working hard."
