Manchester City defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 away from home, securing an eight-game winning streak across all competitions. Today, multiple media outlets released the second part of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's press conference, where the Spaniard discussed various topics and situations.
On What Manchester City Does Better Than Last Season
“Energy, energy, energy—that's what we lost last season. But now we've started training at a higher intensity and engaging in fiercer competition on the training ground. Only by regaining energy first can we discuss tactical formations, whether it's three defenders or four, using wingers or full-backs—those are secondary. We need energy, and with energy, we can create a good team environment.”
“Take our Club World Cup knockout match against Al-Hilal, for example. The problem wasn't losing; it was that we actually played well. But it was during the holiday period, so I said, 'Alright, let's go on holiday then.' Deep down, though, I was angry because the quality of our training and the intensity of our battles there were perfect. We held a training camp at our beachside base in Boca Raton, and everyone was very happy. We organized several team dinners, had in-depth discussions about next season's goals, and everyone hoped to maintain this momentum and enjoyed the process.”
"I talked to my assistant coaches, and we all felt that something changed there (during the training camp); you could clearly sense this shift. But that doesn't mean you're guaranteed to win—now we've won eight in a row, which is not easy. We must maintain this competitive attitude and keep improving. The team's mentality is indeed better now."
Looking Back on Last Season's Difficulties, Guardiola Frankly Admitted That His Mood Affected the Entire Club
“Absolutely. How many times did you see me judge and criticize the club here (at press conferences) last season? With the achievements in my coaching career, I could have easily done that, but in reality, I never did once. The problem wasn't you or anyone else; it was that there was a confused atmosphere around the club, and we were missing something. Energy can drop, and it can also recover. Life can't be happy forever, nor can it be sad forever. The key is to recognize the problem, retrieve what was lost, and bounce back. As the saying goes: 'This too shall pass.'”
"This isn't something that can be controlled like a light switch; it requires a method. The newly added coaches Linders and Toure have brought help, and the new signings have also given me the motivation to want to help them. When you're facing the same players, sometimes you think 'they're tired,' but new players make you think 'what about this guy?' and then analyze them. We specifically analyzed the game against Tottenham (the defeat in August), especially the man-marking defense issues, and the team's energy started to recover from there."
Last Season Was Your 9th Year Coaching Manchester City. With the Successive Signings of James Trafford, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, as Well as Husniddin Gafurov and Omar Marmoush Signed in This Winter Window, Manchester City Has Been Injected with New Vitality. Does This Involve Your Tactical Adjustments?
“Yes, we've been studying how to maximize the value of the players, which sometimes takes time. We communicated with the players, and they pointed out that the previous pressing style was uncomfortable, Haaland didn't perform well in certain areas, or the tactics were too risky—such adjustments are essential. Coaches aren't magicians who can solve all problems with a wave of their hands. We have to find ways to make the team work together in harmony.”
"For example, right now, we only have one winger available; the others are injured, so we have to adapt to that situation. However, I didn't expect O'Reilly to perform so well, and you have to recognize that. If a method isn't working, we need to adjust in a timely manner. New players and different opponents always bring new challenges, and winning undoubtedly helps advance this adaptation process."
