Pep Guardiola and Kyle Walker shares an honest reaction to Man City’s 4-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday evening.
Spurs inflicted a fifth straight defeat on Manchester City; two goals from birthday boy Maddison, with Porro and Johnson also getting on the scoresheet.
This is the first time in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career that he has had five straight losses; meaning Liverpool could now go eight points clear in the Premier League with win at Southampton on Sunday.
Man City stay 2nd with 23 points from 12 games. Tottenham climb up to 6th with 19 points from the same amount of games played.
Player ratings (per Sky Sports)
Man City:Ā Ederson (6), Walker (5), Stones (5), Akanji (6), Gvardiol (5), Lewis (6), Gundogan (5), Bernardo (6), Savinho (6), Foden (7), Haaland (6).
Subs:Ā Ake (6), Grealish (n/a), De Bruyne (n/a).
Tottenham:Ā Vicario (8), Porro (8), Dragusin (7), Davies (8), Odogie (7), Sarr (7), Bissouma (7), Maddison (9), Kulusevski (9), Son (8), Solanke (7).
Subs:Ā Johnson (7), Bergvall (n/a), Werner (n/a), Spence (n/a).
Player of the Match:Ā James Maddison.
Ā Guardiola told Sky Sports: “We do not expect opponents to not create chances and score goals. We’re in the moment. We started really well, we had chances and after the first time they arrive we concede. Then it’s a bit more difficult to come back.
“Chances were there. The moment they create the chances the build-up, we coudn’t handle the duels like normally. Now we’re struggling a little bit.
“It cannot happen. When you play top level teams we can concede chances but it’s part of porcess. In our situation it’s a bit tougher.
“I have to see the situation. The players came back late [from internationals]. There were a few reasons we’re not able to be consistent. Now the balance is not in the right moment. But it happened. We have to do it, talk and on Tuesday against Feyenoord have the chance to try.
“Of course Rodri is important but we knew that for many months. But Stones can only play 45 minutes. Jack has been injured many times. Kevin, two months and five months.
“We have to come back and freshen our minds. The season is so long. Many things can happen.
“Before the game I didn’t know what will happen today. So I don’t know what will happen at Anfield. Everyone knows the situation is new for us. We struggled more without the ball. I don’t know how many chances we created. Our game was there.”
“We have to look at ourselves, me first”
Pep Guardiola reacts to Man City’s defeat to Tottenham š pic.twitter.com/OO7qcpxM47
ā Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 23, 2024
Man City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:Ā “In this moment we are fragile defensively. We started really well as normal but we could not score and then after that we conceded. After that we conceded some more which is difficult for our emotions right now.
“In eight years we have never lived this kind of situation. Now we have to live it and break it winning the next games, especially the next one. Now we see things in one way, maybe in a few weeks we see it differently.”
On if the players are struggling:Ā “Of course. We are happy when we win and concerned when we don’t win. It’s normal. There would be a problem if they were not worried or I am not worried.
“We are not used to doing this situation but life is like this. Sometimes it happens and we have to accept it. It is what it is now and we will stand up and do it.”
On technical issues:Ā “I would say that it is not a question of tactics when you lose these types of games. There are details of course but this situation is how you react in some moments. And things are different when you lose three league games in a row.”
On his new deal and feeling the challenge:Ā “The fire is when you win a lot of games, which is better than when you are losing, but we accept this. We have to move forward and break it and try.”
Guardiola told BBC Sport:
“We are fragile at the moment, we could not defend properly. We started well, struggled to score and then conceded. Then situation is more difficult.
“Iāve been here as a player, maybe not as a manager, first three games at Barcelona we lost. The only chance we have is stay there. Last eight years the results have been there, it would be a mistake to change the approach.
“There are not fairytales in life and sport, sometimes you have to live through these situations. You have to accept it. You can’t blame each other, stay together, continue to do what we have done.
“Run away? Absolutely not, we have to stand up more than ever. What will define us is when we fail, we stand up and face it.
“I donāt know what will happen this season, but not for one second will I not believe in these players. There is no team in the world that can sustain success for eight, nine, ten years in a row.
“Of course everything is not fine, but what we try to do is analyse it, letās go to next game and see what happens.”
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker told Sky Sports:Ā “It’s hard to stand here and speak about it when I haven’t properly digested it yet. I’ve stood here when we won titles so I’ll stand here for defeats too.
“This is the most frustrating thing as a defender. I don’t care about scoring goals, I’m bothered about clean sheets and we’re not doing that. You have to go back to the basics and get a clean sheet. If we concede four goals at home we have to score five.
“It’s not just the back four, five or six – it’s all 11 players on the pitch.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve lost confidence together. I’ve spent eight years with this group. You lose confidence as a team but we have to remember what we’ve achieved together. What we’ve achieved in the past means nothing, it’s history. We have one team above us doing really well. We’ll keep fighting to the end as we always do. The best way to turn this round is on Tuesday. Hopefully the mojo comes back and we see the normal City from the past eight seasons.
“Your powers don’t just go. We know our qualities and weakneses. You get a win, you get your confidence and we’re back to how we used to feel.”
On next Sunday’s game at Anfield:Ā “It’s a great game to turn it around and take three points from the team who sit above you. But we can’t put in a performnace like that or we’ll get walked over. We have a Champions League game to prepare for that massive game on Sunday and keep within touching distance of Liverpool.”
Ange Postecoglou speaking to Sky Sports:
On the importance of the scoreline:Ā “Itās significant, when you understand the context of who we were playing.
“Iām proud of the lads, the football we played, the resilience and discipline we showed. When you play City they test every aspect of your game and we handled that well.
“It was an important game for us, the way the boys reacted [to defeat to Ipswich]. Itās easy when youāre under pressure to splinter off but I never got the sense that would happen this week.
“The disspoainitng thing over the last few games is weāve fallen well short of the kind of team we want to be. But I’ve no doubt we are on the right track.”
On James Maddison:Ā “He was outstanding. You have to be against City, and Madders was great. Heās gone through a lean spell but I never doubted his ability. I thought the kind of game we were expecting would suit him.
“I thought we’d need his ability to keep the ball in tight midfield areas. I take it personally on myself if players aren’t reaching their level, thatās on me to get him back up there.”
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou told BBC Sport:Ā “Proud of the lads. To come to City at their place is a daunting prospect. It challenges every part of you. A bit of everything today. We had to be disciplined and work hard – and play decent football – and we did that. Our football was the difference today.
“Outstanding performance.
“You have to be [clinical]. They won’t give you too many opportunities. There was a calmness and maturity about how we handled the ball. Against City you can get spooked and don’t want to play against them. But you have to play.
“They test you in every way – mentally, physically, tactically. Our flat spots have been really flat and something we need to eradicate. We’re a much better team this year than last year. We just need to find consistency.”
On James Maddison: “Not just the goals. He was going to be key for us in getting control of the midfield. He worked hard defensively. He’s gone through a bit of a lean spell but he’s stayed with us during the international break. He was determined to get back to the levels he wants to be. It was a perfect game for him.
“He hasn’t been that badly out of form. He just sets high standards. Part of that is on me – I have to get the best out of the players.”
On his centre-backs: “Brilliant. Ben and Radu were outstanding and Vicario when we needed him. Those two, not just defensively, a part of it was playing out from the back and they had to get on it first. They showed courage and got the rewards.
“I haven’t sensed like we’ve lost belief. We’ve just been disappointed in a couple of games when we haven’t reached the levels.
“I don’t dismiss today. it’s significant. The other four losses were away.”
James Maddison speaking to BBC Sport:
“That’s a birthday Iāll look back on quite fondly. To come here to the champions and perform like that and get the result. You have to cherish these ones, they donāt come around often.
“I thought we were brilliant. It was everything we wanted to show of a top Spurs team. We were clinical, we had cutting edge, we pressed at times. We weathered the storm, had grit and determination and scored four brilliant goals.”
“I feel good, I came out of team for a couple of games. When you come out of the team as a senior player or leader people ask questions and point fingers, but I feel good, I never doubted myself.
“Iām an attacking midfielder, I need to chip in with goals and assists but I havenāt been doing that this season.”
Ā Maddison speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:Ā “As you get older you don’t like to get reminded that is is your birthday because it is a reminder that you are getting on a bit. But his is definitely one that I’ll remember.
“It is very rare that you get results and days like this, especially at the champions, here at City, against a Pep Guardiola side, so you have to enjoy it.”
On if he felt that he had a point to prove:Ā “A point to prove to who? I wouldn’t say that was the correct wording. You have a point to prove in every game that you play, that is the mindset that you’ve got to have. I came out of the team for a couple of games but that gets spoken about more in the media than between players.
“If the manager wants to leave me out and play Sarr and Kulusevski for a couple of games then that’s fine by me. I’ll just make sure that whenever I get the chance he can’t leave me out. No player is happy not to play.
On his performance:Ā “I felt good out there, I have felt good for the majority of the season bar a couple of bad games recently, but that can happen.
“Really happy with my performance and that of the team as well. We had to defend, we had to rely on Vicario too. When you come here you are under the cosh a lot because of the quality they have got but we stood up to it and Vicario made a couple of big, big saves. Good day all round.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Pep Guardiola and Kyle Walker shares an honest reaction to Man City’s 4-0 defeat to Tottenham…
@City_Chief: The only way we will win is to drop him and get rid of him [Walker] in January. He is the reason we are losing. Zero leadership qualities. Bin!
@djefferson947: Fine words but he needs to tell his teammates this. Shout at them when they misplace a pass, gee them up when they concede a goal. His head went down at 2-0. You could see it.
@googalu: Youāve been found out , your team is getting old , letās see if pep can build another team like sir Alex did , great managers do
@kca0027: Tottenham Hotspur. The only club in the world that can sing ācan we play you every weekā to Manchester City, and mean itā¦ Spursy. #COYS
@TalkingTHFC: Off the back of possibly the WORST defeat under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs go and bag their BEST win under him. No other football club like it. #COYS
@ditebogomailula: This is the Man City we grew up watching! šššš
@DFImpressionist: Canāt see Pep lasting till Christmas at this rate š
@LoveTheShirt: No one has done what we’ve just done to Pep Guardiola.
@markwillow80: Now will people shut up about Ange. Let him do his thing. Yes results like this make games against Ipswich, Brighton and so a bit maddening. But itās clear this team with a few more additions and time is gonna be winner for us.
@JasonL151079: Where are all these Spurs fans now shouting for the Manager to be sackedā¦ Hang your heads boys & for once, support your team and your Gaffer.
@Nunnyboy20: what an incredible performance ! Just every single player in a spurs shirt were brilliant. Madders and Kulusevski were 10/10, 8s and 9s elsewhere. Vic was superb too earned that clean sheet, Davies and Dragusin fantastic
@HLTCO: You really never know which version of Spurs are going to turn up. The boom and bust nature of their results is just par for the course now; thereās no point trying to predict it, just sit back and expect the unexpected.
@OngarSpurs: Itās pretty straight forward. We will beat any team that attacks us. We will struggle against teams that defend deep and time waste
@minusmattk: Itās the most stressful thing as a supporter but itās gotta be awesome from a neutral pov
You have to hand it to Spurs. Turning into prime 2011 Barcelona every time they play Man City except when it means Arsenal will win the league is pretty funny.
ā Paddy Power (@paddypower) November 23, 2024
You must be logged in to post a comment Login