The Manchester City boss says he needs to adapt to English football's direct style but insisted once again he will not budge from his approach to the game
Pep Guardiola says there is “no way” he will make changes to his approach in light of Manchester City’s recent results and performances.
City are seven points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea having lost their last two games, while they are without a home win in the top flight since September.
The Blues have dominated the majority of the matches in which they have dropped points, and while Guardiola does accept “the last month has not gone well” and that he “cannot defend that”, he insists he will adapt to English football’s particular demands in his own way.
“No,” he answered when asked if he will change his style.
“No way. We are going to play the way I feel, making mistakes, but I cannot do something I don't feel.
“I believe in that. I believe in the way I play. The boss and the chairman are going to decide, but no way.”
Guardiola insists his style of play is also the best option because of the players he has at his disposal, and the plans that have been put in place by the club in recent years.
Guardiola insists his style of play is also the best option because of the players he has at his disposal, and the plans that have been put in place by the club in recent years.
But he does admit that he and his team need to cope better with the opposition playing to win the second balls, or for set-pieces, and says that thread only really dawned on him after his side had beaten Burnley, when he watched Swansea City beat Crystal Palace 5-4.
“I understood English football the day I saw one game – I was at home – Swansea v Crystal Palace – nine goals, eight from set-pieces.
“You have to control that and we are unable right now to control that.
"Eight goals form set-pieces, corners, free-kicks, throw-ins. That is English football and I have to adapt because never before I have [experienced] that.
“Of course, there are corners, of course there are many things but not in that kind of influence on the game and where the teams are really good at making them. All the strikers, for example, and Watford they are good at this kind of thing. I’m not saying they are not good with the ball in the short space. But they are strong form set-pieces and they used that.
“I am new here but old coaches a long time ago here also had problems with that. It is not only Pep. It is other ones as well.
“But of course, it is only six months living here so I have to improve on that and our team has to learn on that. When we are able to control a bit more and most of the times is when you have a lot of the ball far away, you can avoid that many times. But it is impossible to control that for 90 minutes. We were able to do it at the start of the season. And we did at West Brom, for example, who are an amazing team on that, and we did throughout the 90 mins, and we did at Stoke but when it happens you have to improve. If not you can not survive here, no way, because they are really good. English football, you, are really good at making this kind of action."
“You have to control that and we are unable right now to control that.
"Eight goals form set-pieces, corners, free-kicks, throw-ins. That is English football and I have to adapt because never before I have [experienced] that.
“Of course, there are corners, of course there are many things but not in that kind of influence on the game and where the teams are really good at making them. All the strikers, for example, and Watford they are good at this kind of thing. I’m not saying they are not good with the ball in the short space. But they are strong form set-pieces and they used that.
“I am new here but old coaches a long time ago here also had problems with that. It is not only Pep. It is other ones as well.
“But of course, it is only six months living here so I have to improve on that and our team has to learn on that. When we are able to control a bit more and most of the times is when you have a lot of the ball far away, you can avoid that many times. But it is impossible to control that for 90 minutes. We were able to do it at the start of the season. And we did at West Brom, for example, who are an amazing team on that, and we did throughout the 90 mins, and we did at Stoke but when it happens you have to improve. If not you can not survive here, no way, because they are really good. English football, you, are really good at making this kind of action."
He added: “The last month, I have to accept, it’s not going well. The results, the last four games at home, I cannot defend that. I have to improve what I believe, but when it doesn’t work you have to accept that because you don’t win. I wish, I hope they give me a little bit more time to try.”
source:goal.com
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