Ahead of the crucial Champions League clash between Manchester City and Juventus, Pep Guardiola spoke to the media, expressing his respect for the Italian side while addressing his team’s current challenges.
When asked about Phil Foden’s potential availability for the match, Guardiola replied, “I don’t think so. Maybe he can play a few minutes. It’s great that he’s back training, and we hope he can improve.”
Guardiola also commented on his defensive lineup, stating, “I love my defenders. We can do better, but we need to find something within ourselves to achieve better results. I am satisfied with what the team has done so far; I’m trying to ensure we perform well because these matches are extremely important.”
Reflecting on the significance of the upcoming game, he said, “We’re not in a position to make comments about winning or losing. We focus on one game at a time and are in a situation where we must play to win. We’ve had difficult matches, and now we need to qualify.”
On Juventus, Guardiola praised their quality: “Juventus is Juventus. They are the best team in Italy. They are used to playing under pressure and have shown great quality. They did an outstanding job against Bologna, and I am sure they will perform well.”
Regarding potential squad rotations due to injuries, Guardiola acknowledged the challenges: “We’ve had injuries, especially in the same positions in defense. The team is doing well overall. We try to push in every match; it’s a situation we have to deal with. We are talking about a group that is missing some elements, and we need to find the right key.”
Guardiola explained some of the errors made by his team: “We play this way and take responsibility for our actions. Our strength has been possession; that has defined us over the years. Right now, we are not playing at the right tempo; it’s a transitional phase. We need to simplify things and regain our confidence by returning to basics.”
When asked if the issues were physical or mental, he emphasized that it was a mental challenge: “It’s a mental issue. We need to return to simple things and not forget about players who have done so much for us by playing continuously.”
Guardiola reflected on what he has learned during this challenging period: “We need to find solutions together and give everything back. This isn’t our preferred position, but I think situations aren’t always perfect. It’s a privilege to manage this situation.”
As for his outlook on the future, he stated: “I am confident that things will improve. The players have faith in each other. After many years at City, I know how they behave during tough times.”
In closing, Guardiola addressed his respect for Juventus: “I’ve never trusted any team blindly. I have great respect for Juventus. We need to focus solely on ourselves and not on other teams. Our goal is to beat not just Juventus, but every team we face.”
