Pep Guardiola has fired back at critics who claimed his recent team selection was too attack-minded following Manchester City’s defeat at Real Madrid.
City suffered a disastrous 3-0 loss in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
The Spaniard, widely considered one of the best managers of the last decade, has previously been accused of “over-thinking” tactics on big occasions.
Speaking ahead of his team’s journey to West Ham for their Premier League encounter, the boss insisted that reactions are always shaped by results, and that similar decisions are often praised when they succeed.
Guardiola said: “This is not the first time I’ve been hurt.
“I’ve lost many times in Champions League at all stages, many, many, many times, and have been massacred for decisions and what happened.
“My argument or reason (to) justify the team selection, it’s because I lost, we lost the game.
“But if you win, ah, ‘genius’. How many times have I heard, ‘Pep is a genius’ for the team selection?”
Pep Guardiola has fired back at critics who claimed his recent team selection was too attack-minded following Manchester City’s defeat at Real Madrid
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He added: “I have to explain before and after? After 10 years? I would not convince you for one second. Why? Because we lost and that’s all – 3-0, destroyed.
“It’s normal. It’s not the first time I’ve played in that competition, the Champions League – 17 years playing in that competition – and every time I lose, boom, my God ‘peow, peow, peow’ (mimics gun shots to head).”
Guardiola recalled the fallout from City’s defeat in the 2021 Champions League final to Chelsea, when he left Fernandinho and Rodri on the bench.
He contrasted that with the feeling after last weekend’s FA Cup victory at Newcastle, for which he had raised eyebrows by making 10 changes.
Five facts about the Premier League | GETTY/GBNEWS/PAHe said: “I played a final of the Champions League without Fernandinho and Rodri as holding midfielder against Chelsea. I was destroyed in that moment.
“They are right, but in that moment, I knew how Rodri and Fernandinho were playing. It was not the Rodri we saw after.
“I can explain that but they’re going to be convinced? Forget about it.
“What happened in Newcastle? Did you read the comments before the game (about) my team selection? ‘What are you doing? Lack of respect, how do you leave Erling (Haaland) at home?’ – 1-3.”
Top scorer Haaland has scored just four goals in his last 17 appearances
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Guardiola defended his approach at the Bernabeu: “After the game in Madrid I said there was a logical reason. I wanted a threat. I wanted to have people arriving to the goal, I wanted people to make (grunts) when we arrive with the wingers.
“We did it in the first 20 minutes. We were close.”
Top scorer Haaland has scored just four goals in his last 17 appearances.
Addressing his strikers’ form, Guardiola said: “Of course, he needs goals. Of course the team needs it and he needs it. We have to find him more.”
