Pressing Issues

“I didn’t expect it at Anfield“ Guardiola remarked after the game.

He also acknowledged “it’s part of the game. When you win, you laugh, when you lose, they laugh. I have to accept it”.

The Spaniard responded to the chants by holding 6 fingers up to the crowd – reflecting the 6 titles he has won at City.

Pep To Steady The Ship

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher called the 53-year-old “unsackable” after a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord added to City’s dismay in the Champions League midweek.

In the aftermath of yesterday’s game, he claimed that they now face “a fight for the top 4”.

When asked about Anfield’s chant, Guardiola said “maybe I deserve to be sacked… or maybe I’m still in the job because I won six Premier Leagues and a lot of titles!”.

Clearly, the City manager believes he is still the man to turn things around.

What next for Pep?

Guardiola’s footballing philosophy has never changed. It has evolved from inventing the false 9 to inverting full-backs, but it’s yet to fail him – this has never changed.

When Guardiola took over Barcelona B in 2007, his first three games were 1 victory, 1 draw and 1 loss. This loss caused him to think “I have to change”.

“But then I arrived at Wednesday training and said ‘no, I’m not going to change”.

In essence, we can almost rule out a change of style for Guardiola going forward.

He did say after the game yesterday that “all of us will reflect”. City’s lack of midfield presence was an issue throughout the first half, and their lack of dynamism was an issue in the second.

They fell right into Liverpool’s plan, a feeling Guardiola won’t be used to.

Going forward, he will need to be more astute with player selection and perhaps consider a few tactical shifts – at least until he can bring in reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Carragher echoed this sentiment: “it doesn’t matter how great you think these managers are, they still need great players”.