Guardiola: “It’s not realistic to think about big goals”

Pep Guardiola, coach of Manchester City, said today that for now his team cannot “think about big things” and can only think about the next game, no less on Sunday at Anfield against Liverpool, leader of the Premier League with eight points ahead to the ‘citizens’, current champions.

“Like us, it’s not realistic to think about big goals. The situation now is to think about the next game, pick up the pace and continue like that. That’s how we’ll come back. Even in a good situation, the thought of winning the title in November or December is unrealistic. I always start thinking about goals in April or May. It will be more difficult if we don’t get a good result on Sunday, but there are still many, many games to play,” Guardiola said ahead of the great game at Anfield, where City is after six games in all competitions without a winfive consecutive defeats (including Saturday’s 0-4 league defeat against Tottenham) and Tuesday’s 3-3 defeat against Feyenoord despite leading 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium with a quarter of an hour to go remaining

“It’s normal for this to happen”

“We will come back. I don’t know when, but that’s the truth. You can judge the situation we are in, but it’s normal for this to happen when a team controls the Premier for many years,” Pep added. Premier champions at City in four previous editions and six of the last seven.

Last week Guardiola renewed his contract at City until 2027, but he is going through his worst streak of his entire career as a coach.

“You have to live, without blaming anyone”

“Of course we think about what I can do, but as a player and a coach you have to live in these situations. You have to live it, accept it and deal with it. Without complaining, or blaming anyone. If you don’t win, you there is a problem, I know that people trust me, it is not normal to have results when you are a big club, but you have to accept it. I want the opportunity to try and rebuild my team in many aspects, from now until the end of the season and beyond. We haven’t had consistency in the past, but what team in ten years has been consistent? Tell me, they don’t exist, not in tennis, not in the NBA, not in golf,” argued Guardiola.

“It shows how we are as athletes and competitors. It’s easier when you have 10, 12 games in a row and everyone is in shape and at their best. I have to prove myself now. I have to find a solution and a way for you to do and I will.” I try every day,” Pep asked.