Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reacts to Man City losing the FA Cup Final to Manchester United
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
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00:00Evening guys, we do have a mic in the room so if you can signal it like to ask a question
00:21we'll come to as many as we can. We'll take two or three at the end, embargoed for 10.30
00:25on Sunday evening.
00:40First of all, congratulations to Man United for winning the FA Cup. I think my game plan
00:49in the first half was not good. The second half was much, much better. We were more intense
00:58in part because we were 2-0 down and when that happens you don't have anything to lose
01:02and you make a step forward. It was a tight game, we gave away the first goal and after
01:06they made a good transition for the second one we didn't close well. But credit to United
01:12for the second goal, the quality they have. And after we tried, we had the clearest chance
01:18in the second half. It's not easy because they defend so man-marking and they follow
01:22really well the pockets and the transitions were there. But we cut the chances and unfortunately
01:29we scored a goal a little bit late with the chances we had before. Maybe the game will
01:33be a bit different but the team was there. Like all the time when we lose, we are there
01:38and yeah, disappointed today. Like it's normal, teams that lose the finals but the season
01:46has been extraordinary, fighting for all the trophies in a good way and rest and come
01:54back next season.
01:55Pep, you, after the final whistle, went to each and every one of your players. Why was
02:01that important? What was the message you gave to them after a great season?
02:04Come on. We talk and hug each other and now we are sad and celebrate tomorrow what an
02:12incredible achievement we have done and come back. So it's as simple as that. In football,
02:18in life, you win, lose. It's the way we lose, it's what we have to do, especially in the
02:23second half. They even give up and go and go.
02:25Pep, you also went up to Eric afterwards. Given the season he's had, the pressure he's
02:31been under going into this game, is there a part of you that even in defeat can be happy
02:35for him given the difficulties he's gone through or is it just purely win, win, win?
02:40They have to take a decision. I don't know, but of course he's a lovely person, an extraordinary
02:47manager. So, of course, winning the FA Cup is important for them, like it was last season
02:53for us.
02:54Pep, it's your title parade tomorrow. Does this result just take a little bit of the
02:58shine off it?
02:59Now the feeling, of course, when you lose a final you are disappointed, but we celebrate
03:07very good this week and all the journey in the Premier League. When you make 91 points
03:13it's because we won a lot of points and the journey was really, really good. But, as I
03:19said, you have to be so proud and celebrate what we have done.
03:23Pep, with the performance in the first half, did you feel that the players seemed to look
03:30a little bit sluggish?
03:31No, no. For my decision, we were not in the right position to attack them. It's my mistake.
03:36I didn't. The game plan was not good.
03:38So, do you not think the celebrations after the title win and...
03:44Completely the opposite. They were focused and how we were reacting in the second half
03:49was really good.
03:50Just up to Sam before the embargo, please.
03:53Hi, Pep. You've mentioned a couple of times it was your mistake in terms of the plan,
04:01but what did you have in your head? What were you thinking before the game?
04:04The players know it. The reason why. Tactically, it was not good. I had the feeling it was
04:11not good today.
04:12But what were you looking for? You must have had an idea going into it, thinking, well,
04:16this is what we want to do.
04:17No, you plan a game for different positions, but after that it didn't work. It's as simple
04:21as that. Even with that, we arrived two or three times in the final third, in the by-line,
04:28the crosses for nothing. We did it. They make one shoot, the goal away and the goal for
04:35Maino and no more than that.
04:38As always when we play against United, we have more or less the control and normally
04:43we create the second half. We were not able to do it.
04:48Ian at the front, please.