Pep Guardiola said he was “not good enough” to solve Manchester City’s growing problems after Manchester United’s last two goals sent them to a dramatic 2-1 derby defeat.
City turned the tables in impressive fashion at the Etihad Stadium as Amad Diallo sealed victory for the visitors in the 90th minute only for Bruno Fernandes to equalize from the penalty spot.
Makeshift left-back Matheus Nunes scored a game-changing penalty after his failed back pass had put Ederson in trouble, but Guardiola took responsibility as he dealt with an unprecedented eighth defeat in 11 games.
“I am the boss, I am the manager, I have to find solutions, but I don’t find solutions,” he said at his press conference.
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What a FINISH from a stunning Manchester City-Manchester United Premier League match
“This is a big club and when you lose eight (of 11 games) something is wrong. You can say the schedule is tough or the players’ injuries, but no.
“I’m the manager and I’m not good enough, that simple. I have to find a way to talk to them, coach them the way they should play and press them the way they should press.
“I’m not good enough, I’m not doing well, that’s the truth.”
Guardiola signed a new two-year contract in November, saying he did not feel he could leave the club at a difficult time, but the crisis has since deepened and he now faces questions over how and when he can turn their fortunes around.
“I’m here,” he said. “I am responsible. It would be easy for me to say that we lost because of this action or this player or this situation, but football is a team game.
“I’m not good enough to find a way for them to feel peace in their bodies and in their minds. I’m here to try and try again and again.” is the reality.”
Guardiola added: “I knew it was going to be a tough season, but I didn’t expect it to be this tough.”
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Roy Keane has been angered by Manchester City defender Kyle Walker after he clashed with Rasmus Hoylund.
Speaking Sky SportsGuardiola said: “Unfortunately this year I would say that happened a lot. We give a lot against Feyenoord and it’s more difficult this season and in games at this level.
“We, I would say, are not playing well. It was so fluid and now we are struggling for different reasons, of course for many defeats, but we put everything, the game was almost closed, except for one chance for Bruno Fernandez.
“Okay, they were a bit better, they had more possession in the first half, but nothing special. But at the end we scored two goals and that’s more difficult.”
“It is what it is, what I can say is it’s not about this player’s actions or that, it’s a tough season and it’s going to be a tough season.
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Pep Guardiola admits things are getting worse for Manchester City
“Today we did not play our best, because in some positions we are not in our best form, we struggled, but that is what it is.
“Now we are not playing for many things, but especially for the momentum we have.
“Obviously we need results to lift our spirits, but the reality is that I’m the manager of this club and I haven’t found it yet.”
Silva: We played like under-15s
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Bernardo Silva criticized his team’s “stupid” decisions
“Manchester City” midfielder Bernardo Silva pulled no punches on their performance in the latter stages, criticizing their “stupid mistakes” and insisting they got what they deserved.
“At this level, if it’s one or two games, you can say they’re lucky,” he said. Sky Sports. “If it’s 10 games, it’s not about that.
“If in the 87th minute of a derby you win 1-0 for your team with a corner and the ball ends up with your ‘keeper and a penalty, my friend…
“If you make stupid decisions like that with three or four minutes left, you deserve to pay for it.
“If you look at the game, there was only one team that could have won, but in the end we lost, and it’s not one game, it’s been a lot of games recently.
“We have to look at ourselves. It’s not about luck. It’s your decisions. Today, in the last minutes, we played like under-15s and we paid the price.”
Neville: “Manchester City” players have reached the end of the road
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Gary Neville believes this Manchester City team has reached the end of the road and feels something needs to change at the club.
Speaking on Gary Neville Podcast, Sky Sports pounds Gary Neville said that Guardiola faces a rebuild and that some of his players have reached the end of the road at the club.
“This is not the time for those who know the game to stick the knife in Manchester City or Pep Guardiola. This is the time to realize that these players have run millions of miles together over many, many years and they have just hit a wall.
“They’ve hit a wall with their manager. It’s been a couple of seasons at United where we haven’t won a season or two. Pep Guardiola has never had a title without a team here.
“These are serial winners and this is one of the greatest managers of all time. They’ve been incredibly consistent, they’ve been reliable, everything you’d want in a football team and they’ll always be winners.
“But they’ve all reached a point in their journey together where something needs to change. I thought it would come last year. I thought it would be a downfall. Nope their downfall: the will to win, you just can’t keep up.
“You’ve got a break somehow. They’re playing in the Champions League, they’re playing in the Carabao Cup finals. They’re playing for their countries every summer. They’ve just come to the end of that journey.
“One or two of them may leave, three or four should come and you will see a different Manchester City to adapt to those changes.
“This is the time to say, dude, what have you been up to the last few years, because this isn’t them. They’ve proven that to us over the course of four, five, six seasons.”
