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M,anchester City boss Pep Guardiola on player injuries, solutions and club world cup effect on next season ahead of Premier League clash with Newcastle

14/02/2025

Embargoed section

CFA, Manchester, Uk
Transcript
00:00You've had this season you kind of basically predicted when you would talk when you've talked previously about the schedule and rotary
00:06Also sort of said maybe players have to take action. Sadly. He got injured, etc, etc
00:10So but can anything actually be done? I mean, how could you affect it?
00:13Would it be less teams in the Premier League? Maybe the Champions League was not as
00:18Sort of many teams. How could you actually reduce the schedule? Do you think what could actually be done?
00:23to help players
00:26I always expect the injuries during the season not as much but I would think it's not just a problem for Man City
00:34so if you say
00:37Tottenham Arsenal right now except Liverpool that all the season was so stable in the terms
00:43all the teams you go Madrid for example as well or
00:47Yeah, many teams when you play
00:50Accumulate season by season by seasons and this is at the end. It's like you happen with Manu at the end. The body said it's enough
00:58the solution or the to prevent that I
01:04Think you're in club in the past myself in the past and right now it's just a solution is a calendar
01:08So I don't find another reason. There is a why there are a lot a lot of injuries. There's not not other
01:15Not other question. So practically speaking that would mean
01:19Less teams, for example in the Premier League so then that probably can't be reduced in the same for the Champions League
01:24Is that's good that have to be it right? No, like it's not going to happen
01:27It is not going to happen in less Premier League games. The karaoke will continue and
01:32Really like the only solution have is 40 players in the squad
01:37That would be that
01:40It's impossible
01:41Bank crop for the clubs how you sustain for a player the salaries and the transfer it's impossible
01:50Back with with a kanji out. What are your sort of apart from Rico? Do you have other options at right back?
01:56Mateo's you have I don't know if course
01:58Cuz enough can play that the helpers in depends of the shape that we play and we attack and we defend
02:03Yeah, we see the two new defenders. He signed in January. They're sort of ready to step in if need of you
02:11So the central defenders for the position that the reason why we go with
02:15You know with Manu and maybe the other ones they are in a stable and stable in doubts
02:21But yeah something
02:23Someone's going to play that
02:26There was a big delay
02:28For the for your first goal on Wednesday
02:32VAR
02:33And the commentators were saying that the players were getting it looked like they might be getting cold
02:39Do you think that might have contributed to Jack's injury at all?
02:45I don't think so. Um, and also with I didn't speak with Jack about that. How
02:53Did she feel in
02:55He feels in that moment. He feels in the moment, but I don't
03:00And just with you know, your players played at the European Championships and then they've gone into this season
03:07And and the the injuries have come quite regularly
03:11What do you think your squad will look like for the Club World Cup when it comes to the end of another season and then
03:16You're expected to you're expected to play another tournament. What do you think? It will look like at that stage? It's a big question mark. I
03:24Would like to give you answer, but I don't know big question mark
03:28that I
03:30Was a not positive
03:32feeling
03:34Because we are in the position that we are but you know, but many many clubs and happen
03:39I'm saying he just asked with a
03:42Practically, okay. We change something but the same
03:45departments and medical staff or the same mythology the training sessions because you are
03:51Doing one way change the manager the staff and different mythology training and immediately in just in just in just in just said
03:57Oh, maybe you can be a relation for that
04:00you know, it's not because I think more in the age in the combination of seasons and seasons and seasons and
04:07And at the end I
04:09Think my analysis with that is so simple. It's
04:13It's the body the body speak for himself. It's up say one moment. It's enough
04:18So, okay. Give me give me heart
04:21Kick me heart at the body say no no more. I need to rest
04:27Otherwise, I will get injured and we cannot rest and that's why because there's a lot of mounts
04:33but you had in the past and we handle it and handle it, but mainly that players at the moment said
04:39You know because Kevin was one of the players the most
04:43Games have played since eight nine years ago playing every three days and making incredible efforts
04:48distances because his physicality the runners everybody knows like the channels and when
04:53Regained the ball Fernandinho and Roderick passed to him and run and go
04:58He could do it now is 33 years old and come from five months injured last season season is not the same
05:05So because because the body was injured five months, but they said
05:09That wouldn't happen. I go to holidays, but they go to a national team to play
05:15World Cup or a World Cup Oh the conference new, you know competition that
05:20With I did in the season or maybe now with the World Cup and it's not about I
05:26Don't think all the managers or the physios or this one. It's just this amount of games and the bodies the players say
05:35I'm tired
05:37putting with that that we
05:39Took all the records in England home because when you bring nobody have done four in a row
05:45For premise in a row
05:47It's different. You break a record that you bring your own record and say what's next?
05:51No, when the Champions League already before in a row have all the records 100 points
05:57Right, so and your analysis what I said before I said many times to the players and the club
06:03So in when analyzing nine years, we have done three months really really really but really really bad three months in nine years
06:09So it's not as bad. No
06:11So when the people are back what happened now what happened no, no, no what have happened
06:18There's a problem what have happened
06:20That is a normal. It's not normal now, but it's not normal in the past for sure
06:27Maybe we do a hundred points now in the modern football. I'm waiting
06:32Or four in a row. I'm waiting with Bournemouth with a full-on with
06:36Walls will come back with make the level have did I asked to window yesterday?
06:42Ask me a question
06:45Two years ago you were here. You were one year in Barcelona. You come back one year
06:49Did you change something in the Premier League? I said massively
06:53Honda was a travel when Barcelona when you come back was different just in one year do unbelievable
07:01Is it true the teams are?
07:03Much much much better in all departments the people per person when there's the standards
07:11We dictate so
07:14Liverpool have you seen Liverpool this season
07:18Cannot do 100 points already. Definitely cannot 99, but no under
07:22They look the season had done that made me the bench to said why we have done
07:28And it's not argument to defend what we have done the last three months
07:33But many things happen and put in perspective and perspective. It's not what happened now. What would have happened what happened?
07:40will be replaceable will be
07:42We're so difficult for that. I compare what we have done inconsistent for many many years and now we realize I
07:48Could expect dropping as much as now. No
07:52No, because it's about
07:54Speculars a lot of games, but there's a reality I took safety
07:57we have to defend except all the criticisms and
08:00The bad moments that we have you have to accept it because it's not not normal, but is the reality
08:04What can you do cry? We can you do a complaint? No, it's what it is
08:08So we are not good enough within the front of souls when we were 1 0 2 0 in the past
08:13The open not even close and a halfway not in the box in a halfway. We take the ball and
08:19We have to do it now
08:21We are not good with that. We don't have the ball. We lose the balls. We take the risk. We make a mistakes like
08:28It's not usual in the teams like, you know, we have done for many many years
08:32We know we are done but it's happened. They are moving means no, it's happened. Okay support. I don't know life thinking in Newcastle
08:39And after recover and we'll see what happened after Newcastle. How is our mood? How is our game?
08:44How is everything to go to Madrid and continue until the end if it must happen qualified fine. It's not
08:50At the end and dictate the family
08:53So we're in the position because we are not that were before because we are not good enough
08:57So there's no more analysis that if Madrid's recover for the two goals that we give away it because we are not good enough
09:04Very good to score before. Yeah, who could have scored a second in the third one zero?
09:08Yeah, it happened the previous season that we deserve much more than we then get. Yeah today
09:13We didn't get that. Maybe we didn't deserve. No, but it's football accept it and then go for it
09:19I
09:20bet
09:21Are you able to describe how difficult it's been for your goalkeepers this season in the sense that you know?
09:28Probably not as calm on the ball as a team and there's been a lot
09:31The the back four has not been steady because it's been so many injuries. It must be difficult for those two players
09:36That's not about the keeper. I said many times the football isn't
09:40Ecosystem is in a group is in
09:43Why defend better we will play worst why we don't play good
09:47But we defend better why the goalkeepers have no made that because the movements are not proper
09:50Why because everyone is a little bit want to do well
09:53We do need to win in that position and everyone is another one. It's not something simple that
09:58Okay, get it up this player more remove this player put this on our system. Everything is going sweet. No
10:05So it's not it's not about it. It's not about the Stefan. It's not about of course now
10:10You know the situation have happened in the past I
10:13Listen, they said why you don't say something to this player? Why they know it?
10:18But I have to say come here to criticize or come in the locker room and said why you do that?
10:24Why they know that we had to do better and give away the goal first goal against against
10:31Arsenal the second one the Harvards could get the score in five minutes, so
10:36So
10:37Just we give them so doing
10:41Not as good as early in the past just not giving away the goals like is Wow. I was possible in that level will be
10:48Thousand times much much better. We're not finished 22. We finish my higher for sure
10:53We're in the primarily we'll have six seven more points for sure situation will be different
10:58But it happened is because it's our fault
11:02It's our fault you have to accept it and and for that okay try to next game to avoid it to undo it
11:08Then play better. What do you think? That's partly a product of you not being able to pick a consistent
11:15team
11:19Absolutely
11:21Always I rotate a lot the teams, but there are a moment that
11:24Everybody knows for maybe one or two rotation, but the star 9 10 11 was was clear
11:30But
11:32It's gonna do it with the problems you had and a lot of players that play a lot of minutes. They are so tired
11:39Emotionally as well because how many games we are 1 0 10 minutes left. I mean I lose the game
11:43I mean I lose the game rather than left at least you lose 3 0 5 1 against against
11:49Arsenal is easy to swallow
11:51It's more difficult this one's a Brentford United and last game against Madrid and these games
11:56You know, but we know that
11:58Time to suffer. We know that we are able to we are not fine. We know that the seasons guys
12:03We did just to have a bad season
12:06Come on
12:07In nine years, we deserve to don't be like we were a human beings can happen. What is a problem? No
12:14But we are not
12:15Consistent for for many reasons specially for that
12:17You don't have to the players are the best for for the amount amount of games that the injured had in the most players had
12:23to play a lot of games
12:26Said earlier on players fatigue and injuries that a player can only take so much
12:30I realize it's a few months down the line, but with the Club World Cup
12:34Do you think you seriously consider not taking some players and giving them a rest because by that way they can have a fresh
12:42Start to the scene. No, I don't think so. We some a time there will go with the families
12:46We train where you have to train prepare the games important for the club financially for the prestigious and
12:52We will come people from the academy
12:55No, I don't think so what's going to happen after we'll see if I give extra time
12:59to arrive late and maybe the first games of the Premier League or the premier the first games of the season arrive a little bit
13:05later, we will see how the people arrive and
13:08How many minutes some players place and please please let less less minutes with you
13:14Take some Academy players to kind of boost the numbers basically and software. Oh, yeah
13:20I think so even for the training sessions for
13:23For some players maybe I have to to see I have to talk with the club
13:29for the manager for the under 23 or under 18 and see
13:33But still is three three months a half until the end of the season
13:37I would say you know before the World Cup and after we have time to see what happened
13:42And
13:46You said quite a lot this season you were just like your players back your squad back
13:51The longer the injury problems go on. Can you see a point where you do get all of your players back?
13:58No, that's not
14:02And what happens then how do you solve it now we bring three four players and
14:08Ended up quick and because we cannot train much and there are a lot of things that they had to learn but yeah to do
14:15We have done so far. We survive in the way we have done it and we have to to continue
14:20I don't think so. We have to
14:22You know to finish the season as best as possible every game
14:26be aware while you're playing for for our future not for our present and and
14:31And and do it. So I'm looking back. I'm
14:36Continue to do it and when it's the stuff because it's the first time for many players for me
14:41I sadly that position but you have to accept it
14:44So what I said before so the exception is what I had done before in all our careers. This is exceptional
14:49This is not normal as well, but maybe it's less exceptional, you know, you know
14:53Maybe we'll finish 14 15 league, but we are fifth
14:57We are not dropping like maybe other teams that had success a few success in the past. So
15:03It's accepted and take the good things that still we have we get we have apparently it doesn't look like but we have a good
15:09things and
15:11Grab from there and and try to build and maybe some results will help us
15:15think about it we can do differently in terms of shape in terms of players and they can give us and
15:21And and try it
15:24You talked about a lot of stuff today like, you know
15:28Maybe not coming back to their best this season the amount of injuries other teams being
15:33Physical trying to finish the season as best as possible and the good things that the team can do
15:37So against Real Madrid, for example, not Club Rouge
15:40You can see every time no matter how low they are the players when they start again, they're so aggressive
15:45They're obviously doing what they're told to do. They press they follow the plan
15:49Second half against Madrid though. The line still high. They're not pressing as much against Bruce. They're super aggressive, but they can't get there
15:56Is that kind of the state it's at now where everything you want them to do and everything that makes city so good that
16:01Aggression and keep him the energy so high. It's not actually enough
16:08Can you choose to any for 90 minutes longer, yeah, right
16:12What's the solution at this point
16:18Change six players in the bench
16:20Maybe drop the team a little bit more and rest with the ball and the problem is that we don't rest
16:25The second half with Madrid one day after five minutes
16:28They took the ball and I start to play play pay was again the ball you wanna in two seconds a score a goal
16:34We lose the ball and I think that pain beneath around more more more
16:38So we were able to do the sequences of 20 25 30 passes
16:43Now we are not able to do that and with in the big big success the team and when we were able to do
16:4820 25 30 sequence of passes in the halfway for the hour open and now we are not able to do it
16:56Of course you have to insist so the team is built for that
17:00They have a success in the past for that to build to build the team in in that way. But now
17:06We don't do it because we want to score because we're accelerated because the people the man has called the second stop stop
17:14First the score had to play, you know, and it's difficult to do it because the team are so look tomorrow
17:18No, do you think we can compete against the physicality from Newcastle?
17:25So defend more compact and play better with the ball and know exactly in the certain moment what you have to do and sometimes you
17:31Have to drop a little bit and be compact defensively help each other
17:34But they want to fight against Bruno and the fight against finale. I don't know long stuff. I don't know will go
17:39I don't know is Jolinto will be there on that position. They are stronger and quicker than faster
17:44our players
17:45but always was in changes while I was here and
17:47Sergio was here and what I said a lot a lot of midfield pace and if I they were not physical strong
17:53You know and what happened we won it
17:56Liverpool's have been stronger than us the period arson always have been a stronger than us and what is the problem I would play
18:02You know we play but now I was said before
18:05You know before we have the confidence to play with the ball and now we suffer when we have the ball
18:09You know I accept when the opponents
18:13When the opponents have the ball I'm going to suffer except it
18:16But now we are suffer when we have the ball and never happened before
18:18Oh, we're comfortable with that and now is what because it's beautiful that now I cannot change now
18:24I cannot go to the gym three days and put the players are stronger and faster a quicker. It's not going to happen that
18:30So, but we have is the quality, you know
18:32Don't come the ball had the ball have it possible
18:34Yeah
18:35but the situation died that we want to do it that and we are struggling a bit because they're human means we understand because I
18:40Was football player and last season I was the best midfielder and this season I cannot give one pass
18:46It was me. So I know that is not if I try understand the place. That's why I want to be there
18:51that's why I said, okay in the bad moments unnecessary to tell the situation everybody knows but
18:56Always next game is an opportunity to get better to be challenged to make the next game
19:01Don't go with a little our confidence will be higher
19:05And this is what you have to do and at the end of the season the team myself
19:09The club with the decisions that you have to take to try to avoid
19:13what happened this season in terms of injuries in terms of many things many things happen and try to
19:18To solve it to live a season like like we have lived this season and try to be close that the season we have lived before
19:24Okay