After watching his team defeat Manchester United in the Manchester Derby, Pep Guardiola expressed his pride and publicly praised his players in an interview with camel.live.
Manchester City completely dominated and overwhelmed United on Sunday. Having suffered two consecutive league defeats earlier in the season, the Blue Moon (Manchester City’s nickname) has rediscovered its form—and this couldn’t have come at a better time, just ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash against Napoli.
Following the 3-0 victory, Guardiola spoke highly of the performances of several key players, including Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Catalan coach was extremely proud of his players’ displays; he not only analyzed the win over their cross-town rivals but also discussed the transformation Manchester City has undergone recently.
Do you think your team has rediscovered its best form?
“We didn’t expect the season to start like this, but of course, our opponents are very strong. We want to stay competitive and fight for titles. There have been a lot of changes in the transfer market—we’ve brought in nine players, and these signings form the core of our team. It’s hard not to think about the players who have left and everything we won together. But the atmosphere in the squad is fantastic— the body language, the fighting spirit… and seeing the smiles on the fans’ faces.
“Being able to let them enjoy the game and bring them moments of joy is a privilege. I know how important this derby is. Our players have a lot of pride; they want to prove themselves on a day as special as this. You know why I’m such a good coach? Because I have some incredible players, and they’re all performing at their best. That’s exactly what we need. We saw that today, and this has to continue.
“This is just one game. Against Tottenham, we did a lot of things right but still lost. Today’s game meant a lot, and the players were very aggressive—everyone looked like a well-oiled machine. We have to face Napoli on Thursday, and we have to respond. We haven’t done well enough in this aspect, either last season or this season, but we have the mental strength, and our captains are outstanding.”
