Pep Guardiola is undoubtedly one of the greatest managers of all time. He falls into the category of those managers who have changed the way football works and have brought on revolution after revolution after revolution. After his last revolutionary work at Barcelona from 2008–12, the Spaniard is looking to do the same at Manchester City, with a part already done after winning the Champions League last season.
But recently, his team has been facing injury concerns, which have affected their performance on the pitch. But with his critical players coming back from injury, the manager will be looking to get back on track with his 2-0 win against Everton in the recent hours.
Guardiola delighted to have Haaland and De Bruyne back
In the recent match against Brentford, Pep Guardiola was able to play his two most critical players together for the first time in months this season and was delighted after a 3-1 win against Brentford that day. Going on to say about the performance of the team, the Spaniard was delighted by specifically three players on the pitch and praised them all around. For Haaland and De Bruyne returning from injuries, the manager said:
“When one player scores 60 goals it helps you to win games. When you have a player with a thousand million assists and goals it helps you win games.”
“You don’t have to study at Harvard or Yale to understand that.”
As for Phil Foden, who scored the hat-trick goal in the match to win it for his team, the manager praised:
“If he wants to improve he will improve. That’s life. And I think he wants to do it. He’s doing well. Since he arrived early, early ages, he was at a good level and he continues to do it.”
The team with players like Haaland, Phil Foden, and De Bruyne looks like a different beast tactically and there is no saying against them. Probably that’s why the club is already looking to sign other sensations like them with the likes of Savio and Olise on the list.
Guardiola refuses to provide his opinion on blue card
Later, the manager was also asked about his opinion about the new concept of the blue card and its effects on the game. But unlike other managers like Klopp and Arteta, who expressed their opinions freely on the topic recently, Pep Guardiola kept silent on the topic and refused to say anything regarding the matter, stating that these are just ideas for now and there are no official rules and guidelines from FIFA or UEFA regarding the same.
“I heard something like that but it’s not official from UEFA or FIFA.
“When they give the final decisions and explain the rules for everyone around the world, not just the referees and managers, I’ll give you my opinion.
“Now it’s just an idea.”
Previously, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who is set to depart at the end of the season to take a break from the managerial role, expressed their thoughts regarding the blue card sin-bin matter and profusely refused the idea of accepting it in modern football. Jurgen Klopp laughed at the idea, stating:
“I can’t remember when the last fantastic idea came from these guys – if they ever had one.”
Arsenal boss Arteta expressed the not-readiness of football to embrace that concept right now.
With managers of big clubs still not sure about the new blue card sin-bin rule, there is no certainty whether this rule would even stand to make any impact over the revolutionary modern football, although Pep Guardiola is certainly on that path with his team Manchester City playing with four centerbacks in the defense and still performing well on the field in crucial matches.
Do you think Pep Guardiola could win another Champions League with his current Manchester City team or is it too much to ask from the star-studded team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
