Manchester City manager Guardiola tells players
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have rediscovered their kind after telling his players to “stop running”.
the city is on a six-game winning run — their longest of the season — after an inconsistent beginning of the campaign.
Victory over Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday will move Guardiola’s side to within a point of champions Liverpool with a game in hand and he says the return to kind, significantly going ahead, has been triggered by his request for his gamers to “stroll.”
“The only distinction is that we run much less,” Guardiola told an information conference on Tuesday.
“We were running too much. When you play soccer you have to stroll — or run a lot much much less.
“Without the ball, it’s important to run. However, with the ball, you stay extra within the place and let the ball run, not you. And we improved in these games, in these terms.”
The city has struggled for goals this season with the 24 they’ve managed in the Premier League the lowest tally of any of the highest 9. But since the 1-1 draws with West Brom in December, they’ve started to show things round, scoring 15 in their last six games in all competitions.
“We lost it a bit this season, that was my fault, the message was not clear, however, we came back slightly to the rules,” stated Guardiola.
“The reason why was as a result of the players want time to get the best situation after no pre-season.
“It’s regular that after good results and performances the people visualize once more that we can do it once more in the way we did it in the past. And that is the way we’ve to continue.”
the city’s goalscoring problems haven’t been helped by the absence of Sergio Aguero. The striker, who has been restricted to only 5 Premier League appearances this season, has recovered from a knee but is now having to isolate in line with COVID-19 protocols.
“He was in a good mood and now he’s isolated,” said Guardiola. “In fact, he will lose training periods, and he is a guy who needs training with his better situation in his knee.
“The one essential news is that the last 10 or 15 days earlier than isolation he was excellent. He reacted good and that is one of the best information. One of the best parts of the season is coming and hopefully, we will have him. We’re solely in January.”
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