Pep Guardiola has described this season as the “most difficult” of his 17-year managerial career. Manchester City sit third with three Premier League matches remaining and play in the FA Cup final next Saturday but have struggled to match the form that brought them four Premier League titles in a row, at one point winning one game in 13.
Victory at the bottom club, Southampton, on Saturday would put City level with second-placed Arsenal, who visit the champions, Liverpool, on Sunday, as Guardiola inches closer salvaging the season with Champions League qualification.
“It’s been the most difficult [season], that’s for sure,” Guardiola said. “It’s been more demanding. Much more. When you don’t win it’s more demanding emotionally and preparing, and the moods and everything. It’s been more difficult than the previous seasons we played for the titles.
“We didn’t win one game for many months, we were unable to win a lot of games. It’s demanding, but we don’t win. It’s a business: you have to win games. Otherwise, you cannot be here next time. We represent the people, represent the club, so you have to do your job as best as possible. And today, this season, we didn’t do that. So we were in the highest standards and we dropped it. Even with that, I would say it could be worse.”
Guardiola will be able to call upon Erling Haaland from the start at St Mary’s Stadium after the striker recovered from an ankle problem, as City seek to continue their best league run since the start of the season, having won four matches in a row. The Norwegian was an unused substitute in the win over Wolves last Friday and, having not played since March, could get some minutes in preparation for facing Crystal Palace at Wembley. In an interview with ESPN this week, Haaland said he did not think the team had enough “hunger” this season.
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“If this is the feeling from Erling, the players should talk to each other and ask themselves: ‘Why?’” Guardiola said.
Source: theguardian.com
