Thierry Henry has defended his former head coach Pep Guardiola Monday night footballbut admitted that the Manchester City manager could be “questioned” for the first time due to his poor form.
Henry questioned why Guardiola allowed free-scoring players such as Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Cole Palmer to leave the Etihad without being replaced, and questioned where the goals will come from when Erling Holland is not firing on all cylinders.
City have lost eight of their last 12 games since Sunday’s 2-1 defeat in the Manchester derby left them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with a game in hand over leaders Liverpool.
Although they struggled defensively in Rodri’s absence, Guardiola’s side also comfortably conceded their lowest number of goals per game since his arrival.
“We all know it’s the first time, and we’re allowed to say it, that we can challenge his decisions in terms of leaving out Cole Palmer, Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez,” Henry said.
“Ilkay Gundogan is back, and it’s not the same Gundogan who scores 17 goals a season.
“You miss those goals. Erling Haaland scores the same goals, a few less than in his first season, but he does what he usually does.
“I’ve seen him miss players every season, but where are the goals of Mahrez, Alvarez or Kevin De Bruyne, Gundogan? where are those goals?
Henry said he did not expect Guardiola to step down just weeks after signing a new two-year deal that will run until June 2027, but defended the coach he worked under in his first job at Barcelona for the consistency he had achieved. level since then.
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Pep Guardiola says he is “not good enough” after Manchester City suffered a fifth league defeat this season.
“One thing I’ll say about this team, it’s the first time in his career. Let’s not kill the guy or this team because of what’s going on,” he said.
“You can never say never (that he can leave), but Pep is not a coach. He’s really, really tough and mean when you win because he wants to keep you there.
“And he’s better when he’s down. You can see when the team didn’t play well, he’ll come out and say, ‘I love my team, they played really well tonight.’
“And sometimes he’ll come out and play for his team when they’re 3-0 up, you can see him arguing about someone who missed a pass.
“I like it. You change when you’re on top, you try to change so you can stay there. You’re here, now you try to be a good guy.”
Karra: This is Pep’s first rebuild that feels like it
Sergio Aguero has scored 78 Premier League goals in Pep Guardiola’s first four seasons at Manchester City
Jamie Carragher added that City’s problems only highlighted the level of rebuilding required, with their squad’s evolution appearing more seamless in previous years despite having to replace club legends such as Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany during Guardiola’s time at the club.
He said: “It’s the first time it looks like a rebuild, even though it has been, but they’ve been so successful they haven’t missed the players you’re talking about.
“It’s something that all clubs have been through. You look at Jurgen Klopp a few years ago, Man Utd under Sir Alex Ferguson, where you look at it and think it’s going to take them a few years to get back to what they were. were.
“Because Pep is so good, you never felt it was a rebuild, even though it was.
