LONDON: Pep Guardiola has vowed Manchester City will be back to their best next season after losing their “spirit” during a turbulent campaign that exposed an unexpected lack of hunger in his side.
Currently third in the Premier League, City — who had won the previous four English titles — want to salvage a dismal year by winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League via a top five finish.
Guardiola’s side face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semifinals on Sunday knowing defeat at Wembley would condemn them to finish without a major trophy for the first time since 2016-17.
But Guardiola is already thinking about how to avoid a repeat of City’s stunning struggles and he believes he has found the solution.
The City boss noticed the passion his players celebrated with after Bernardo Silva put them ahead in a crucial 2-1 win against top-five rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday.
It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn’t see earlier in the season, when he felt City took success for granted after winning six of the last seven Premier League titles.
“We learn to do better. To create another bond with the team, to celebrate when we score a goal,” he told reporters on Friday.
“When Bernardo scored the first goal on Tuesday we celebrated. The body language, the passion.
“We didn’t celebrate the same way when we scored in October. That stupid detail tells a lot.
“We have to recover the spirit we had in the first nine years. This year we didn’t have it.”
Guardiola hopes his quest to reignite his players’ fire will eventually close the gap on champions-elect Liverpool.
“Next season will be better. Everybody learned the lesson. I think we will compete a bit better for the Premier League,” he said.
“I’m not saying we will win it but we will be more who we are. I think the players understand. You have to fight to defend your club. I’m pretty sure we will be back again.”
Guardiola took heart from the way Rodri has been trying to inspire his team-mates as the Spain midfielder recovers from the knee injury that has sidelined him since September.
“I love that,” Guardiola said. “The guy doesn’t play and I allow him to be a manager.
“He will help the guys and it is the way we create a team. It is something special.”
City are aiming to reach the FA Cup final for a third successive season after winning the competition in 2023 and losing last year’s showpiece against Manchester United.
They face a tricky test from Nuno Espirito Santo’s team after losing 1-0 at the City Ground in the Premier League in March, a result that maintained Forest’s unexpected push for a first Champions League campaign since 1980-81.
“It would be good to make the final but we have a serious and tough rival. Nuno has been incredible,” Guardiola said.
This is the seventh successive season that City have reached the FA Cup semifinals, but they have only lifted the trophy twice in the Guardiola era.
No matter the result at Wembley, Guardiola acknowledged the season has been a failure.
“I said many times the season has not been good, regardless if we reach the final or go to the Champions League,” he said.
“Too many matches have not been good. We would avoid bigger damage for the club if we win the cup. But what will dictate the season is the Premier League.”
Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top
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Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top
- It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn’t see earlier in the season
- “We learn to do better. To create another bond with the team, to celebrate when we score a goal,” he said
Japan take on resurgent China in U-23 final in Jeddah today
- China have defeated Australia and Uzbekistan and impressed defensively
JEDDAH: Chinese soccer faces its biggest match in more than 20 years on Saturday when it plays Japan in the final of the U-23 Asian Cup in Jeddah.
Despite never advancing past the group stage of the tournament, China is just 90 minutes away from its first continental title since 2004, when the U-17 team was crowned champion. That came two years after the senior team made its first, and so far only, World Cup appearance.
With such successes coming a generation ago, there is huge attention on the U-23 side. On the road to the final, China has defeated Australia and Uzbekistan and impressed defensively, not conceding a goal in five games.
In the first four games, the team scored only once. After eliminating Uzbekistan in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals, however, China beat Vietnam 3-0 in the last four match.
“It’s important to enjoy this victory — not just for the players but also for the staff,” the team’s Spanish coach Antonio Puche said. “Moments like this are significant for football in China as we continue to work toward improving the game.”
Others have taken note of the new China.
Vietnam coach Kim Sang-sik praised China after his team’s defeat.
“This is my first time coaching a team against China, and their performance was truly outstanding, especially their defense, which was very impressive,” Kim said. “I believe they will perform even better, and Chinese soccer is indeed improving.”
Puche was tossed into the air by his players after the semifinal win. “I enjoyed this moment, I enjoyed the game. I’m so happy not just for myself or for the coaching staff, but for Chinese football as a whole.”
Defending champion Japan will present the toughest test yet.
“You know the Japanese team, I know the Japanese team, we all know the Japanese team,” Puche said. “They are a strong team. We will compete against them. We will fight.”
Japan has conceded just one goal in five games and scored 12. A deserved 1-0 win over South Korea in the semifinal was another impressive performance as it chases a second consecutive title and third overall.
“There are many great things we can take from the semifinal into the final,” Japan midfielder Ryunosuke Sato said.
“We’re going to win with all 23 players, starters and subs. The subs have this in mind as well. All 90 minutes against Korea, we managed to defend and persevere, and that’s why we won ... Now we have to focus on the final.”
