Guardiola: Winning doesn't mean we're back to our usual level
In a dramatic interview following Manchester City's recent Premier League win, manager Pep Guardiola said the team is still far from its usual level despite the positive result. Guardiola's expression reflects his ongoing concern about the team's performance, even after achieving victory. Speaking to the press, he stressed that the win should not be a measure of City's return to the top, but rather just a step in a long journey towards improving collective and tactical performance.
Winners of the match, but not in the level
Guardiola was clear in his statements after the win: "Winning is a good thing, of course, but that doesn't mean we're back to our usual level." Although Manchester City won the match and scored wonderful goals, the Spanish coach indicated that there are many areas that still need to improve in the team's performance. This statement comes at a sensitive time for City, who had suffered some setbacks at the beginning of the season, which made Guardiola feel that his team still needs time to return to its best level.
Guardiola doesn't seem to be easily satisfied, and always prefers the team to be in a state of continuous improvement. Despite winning many matches, he believes that the team must make a greater effort to correct its mistakes and return to the best version of itself, which led City to many local and international championships in the past seasons.
Reasons for concern despite the victory
Although Manchester City achieved a great victory in the match, Guardiola does not see the victory as a true measure of the level he wants to reach. The coach seems to believe that there are several reasons why the team is still far from its ideal level, the most prominent of which are:
1. **Defensive harmony**: Despite the presence of a strong defensive line in the team, Guardiola feels that there are still gaps, and that City needs to improve the understanding between the defensive players to ensure keeping a clean sheet in big matches.
2. **Possession of the ball**: Manchester City is known for its style of possession of the ball, but in some matches, the team was unable to impose its control as before. Guardiola believes the team needs to regain its dominance in the middle of the pitch and put more pressure on the opponent.
3. **Attacking effectiveness**: Despite the successes achieved by Manchester City's attack in some matches, Guardiola believes that there were periods of matches in which the team suffered from weak finishing touches in front of goal, which caused them to miss opportunities.
Upcoming challenges
Guardiola, who is known for his dedication and insistence on providing the best possible performance, confirmed that the team will face major challenges in the coming weeks, especially with the approach of decisive matches in the English Premier League and the Champions League. Therefore, the coach cannot be satisfied with the current victory as a sign of returning to the best level. For him, every victory is a step towards continuous improvement, but the biggest challenge lies in continuity and consistency in performance.
Guardiola also indicated that there is a need for greater collective effort from the players to maintain the fighting spirit that characterized City in the past. He stresses that the team cannot relax after any victory, but must remain committed to continuous improvement and development.
Guardiola's statements and their impact on the team
Guardiola's statements were not limited to talking about the team's negatives, but he also stressed the importance of winning as a motivator to motivate the players to work harder. Although the coach expressed his concern about the team's current level, he also stressed that teamwork and continuous effort will eventually pay off. This type of statement can have a positive impact on the players, as they feel that their coach expects more from them and that they must work on improving every aspect of their game.
Conclusion
Ultimately, winning one match is just a step on the road for Pep Guardiola. The coach, who is always looking for perfection, knows that the team's journey this season is still in its early stages, and that they cannot relax after every victory. Manchester City is on the path to improvement, and under Guardiola's leadership, the team is expected to continue striving for the best.