Manchester City suffered a tough 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, further denting their Premier League title hopes. Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were the architects of Liverpool’s victory, each contributing a goal and an assist in a dominant first-half performance.
With City now trailing league leaders Liverpool by 20 points, making their game in hand almost irrelevant, Guardiola faces mounting pressure. Their Champions League campaign is over, and even securing a top-four finish is far from guaranteed. After the match, the city boss shared his thoughts on the defeat, expressing both disappointment and optimism about the future.
Pep Guardiola’s Post-Match Reaction
Despite the loss to Liverpool, Guardiola remained positive about his team’s performance:
“We played really well. We could have been more clinical in front of goal and maybe had more players arriving in the box. But we played against a fantastic team and put together a strong performance. The first half was 50/50, but set pieces made the difference. In the second half, they defended deep, and we struggled to break them down.”
City’s inability to convert possession into goals was a major talking point, with Guardiola admitting that breaking down Liverpool’s defensive unit proved a challenge:
“The tactic was to get into the final third as much as possible. We did that several times but couldn’t capitalize. It’s not easy when you’re up against 10 players packed inside the box. We attempted crosses, but with the height of their central defenders, it was difficult. We just couldn’t find the next step to break them.”
Liverpool’s defensive effort, including Salah tracking back more than usual, caught Guardiola’s attention:
“We have great wingers, but they defended compactly. Even Salah was defending more than in previous matches. I know people might not believe me, but we actually played really well today.”
A Bright Future Despite the Setback
Guardiola, known for his forward-thinking approach, remained optimistic about City’s future:
“If you have to lose, you want to lose playing the way we did today. There are so many positives to take. Apart from Kevin De Bruyne, all the players are young, and this club has an exciting future. Whatever decisions are made, we have a bright future ahead.”
City’s manager also emphasized the need for patience as they work through their transition:
“Everyone knows that apart from the veteran players, we’ll be here next season. We have to build for the next step. It’s a process, and given the absences we had today, I think we played really well.”
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