After their big disappointment in the Champions League on Wednesday in Madrid, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City face Newcastle where defeat is prohibited.
After taking a big hit on the head on Wednesday in Madrid, Pep Guardiola and his team face Newcastle this Sunday.
AFP
As cruel as the disappointment in the Champions League was, in Madrid on Wednesday, Manchester City must quickly digest it, before receiving Newcastle on Sunday (5:30 p.m.), in a Premier League where it has the same number of points as Liverpool. “We haven’t spoken. No words can help us with what we all feel.
Friday, less than 48 hours following the incredible collapse of his team which had won the first leg 4-3 and led 1-0 once morest Real, in the semi-finals of C1, to end up losing 3-1 in extra time and be eliminated, Pep Guardiola did not minimize the state of shock in which his team finds itself.
“How might we forget it? We will play once morest Newcastle thinking regarding it, that’s for sure.
“It’s just a matter of time, to sleep as well as possible and to think regarding the next objective,” he added in a press conference before the meeting of the 36th day once morest the Magpies. Because, time to swallow his huge disappointment, City does not have any.
Saturday evening, Liverpool, qualified for the Champions League final, following dismissing Villarreal (2-0, 3-2), came back in front despite their draw once morest Tottenham (1-1), 5th and in contention for a ticket to C1 next season. A sharing of points which does not however suit the Reds when there are only three games left to play following those of the current weekend. City will therefore have every interest in widening the gap once morest Fabian Schär’s troops.
Guardiola doesn’t expect his players to forget Madrid. “How might we forget it? We will play once morest Newcastle thinking regarding it, that’s for sure,” he admitted.
“What we experienced in Madrid will serve us in the future as a team. People don’t realize it, but I’m telling you, it’s good for us.”
But “what we experienced in Madrid will serve us in the future as a club, as a team. People do not realize, but I tell you, it’s good for us, “he even went so far as to advance.
How City, still in search of a coronation in C1, had he digested his past failures in Europe? If the title was either already acquired or almost (2017-2018, 2020-2021), or already lost (2019-2020), the precedent of the 2018-2019 season has something to reassure supporters.
Manchester City were then two points behind Liverpool, but had to play one more game, when they were taken out in the quarter by Tottenham (0-1, 4-3), following an incredible second leg where a decisive goal had been given to them denied in added time by the VAR for an offside in the construction of the action.
Ironically, City found Spurs in the league three days later to beat them once more (1-0) and end the season with five straight wins. A series that had allowed them to get ahead of the Reds, who had also filled up on their side, by a small point in the end.
“It’s probably one of the moments, since I became a coach, where I’m most proud to be in this club, until the last day, we will give everything together”
The management of the reunion with the players will therefore be vital. “Saturday will be the first time we will be together,” recalled the Catalan. “We are going to talk regarding who we are as a team, what we did in this semi-final, how good we were, not only in these two matches but throughout the season and try to still be over the last few weeks, ”he slipped.
“It’s probably one of the times since I became a coach where I’m most proud to be in this club, until the last day, we will give everything together,” he promised.
(AFP)
