Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola attended the post-match press conference following their 5-4 victory over Fulham.
Oscar Bobb was briefly substituted during the game – could you explain the reason?
My decision.
When will we see him back in the starting lineup?
You know, if you tell me I have to substitute him, I will tell him. So, you won't tell me when I should tell you. I had to make a substitution.
You mentioned earlier that you signed seven or eight new players in the past two transfer windows, and he (Bobb) has played some minutes. I think we'll see more exciting games like this, wow.
I don't know, I hope so. No, no, no.
Haven't you experienced this before?
Maybe I have, but these things are for learning lessons, for the future. You know, just do it, do it. Because, now that you mention it, I see the opportunity, but when Ryan came on, there were two clear scoring chances – both behind the opposition, one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
We could have capitalized on Gvardiol's pass, Haaland's chance, but ultimately we missed them. So, in the end, you have to handle these situations better, but I assure you, I'm not very superstitious, but you know, for experienced players, this kind of thing doesn't happen.
Forget it, it's done. What's done is done.
We have to control the game better, do better, yes, but it's already happened. But you know, that's football.
The result tonight was unpredictable, but in the end, you're two points behind Arsenal, and in fact, you have a game in hand after 14 matches. Do you think the title race really starts here?
Oh, they play tomorrow. Arsenal are a strong team, very solid. So I know what we have to do.
I know we need to get points, and it will be very difficult. We have to adjust our mindset and treat each game like a final – it will be tough, but at the same time, the Premier League is a long season.
I assure you, I'm the oldest manager in Premier League history, and I'm in the best shape. I have enough experience to take the team further and ultimately win the Premier League title.
So, it's really long. I admit, opponents, even Chelsea under Maresca, are impressing me more and more every day. But it's really long.
Too long. The Premier League is really too long. A lot of things happen.
We've won six Premier League titles – in four or five of them, we were leading in December, January, February. There were also times when we were four or five points behind, but we still won in the end.
So, staying consistent and making continuous progress is the key. The team that wins the Premier League is the one that grows throughout the season. That's what we're striving for.
Minimize injuries as much as possible, then give it our all. It takes a long time. But at the same time, if we give our best, we'll do better.
But we have to push ourselves. We have to control the game better, control our movements, etc. So, let's wait and see.
Now, look at Sunderland. I watched their game against Fulham, my god, now I understand. After watching the game, I see why Sunderland have achieved what they have this season.
Undoubtedly, they are excellent. They are top-class.
But considering the problems we've faced and many other positive factors, yes, we are in a better position than last season. We are closer to our target than our opponents, and we will keep working hard and moving forward.
As both a manager and a fan – was there any part of you that enjoyed that game? If so, how much?
Impossible!
We were 5-1, yes, and ended up 5-4. I was more watching the TV than the game. Of course, the game was exciting.
But to be honest, it was a tough game. Very tough. In the end, we didn't get the result we wanted.
But as time goes by, I'll remember being there that day. Never forget. So, let's drop the talk about enjoying the game.
Finally, Marco is smart because when they're in form, they go all out. When both teams want to attack and field top players, the game is brilliant and breathtaking. Indeed, when you combine that atmosphere with this top stadium, this traditional stadium, that kind of atmosphere only happens here.
Only here. You know, this kind of atmosphere exists in many stadiums in this country. But of course, as we all know, you're not Man City fans – none of you are. I know that.
When it was 5-1, could you have predicted the game we saw? Right? At 5-1, you must have been writing your articles, ready to finish work, thinking tomorrow's headline: "Man City Are Finally Back!"
You know what I mean? You should know. In the end, were you frantically hitting delete?
