Guardiola: ‘I don’t train the tackles’. Maybe start?

Daniel Storey

Pep Guardiola has refused to blame his players or his ever-changing system for the shambolic 4-2 defeat against champions Leicester.

The Spaniard has made 50 changes to his starting XIs in the Premier League this season – more than any other manager – but feels it was more Leicester’s gameplan than their own which proved to be the biggest problem.

“After four minutes, 2-0. It is not easy. England is very good on the counter-attack and second balls,” Guardiola said.

“I am not a coach for the tackles so I don’t train the tackles. What I want is to try and play good and score goals and arrive more [in the box].

“Yes the duels you have to win that’s true. But normally when you play good you win a lot of tackles but after four minutes 2-0 in the mind of the players [they say] ‘what’s going on, what happened’ and it’s not easy for them.

“That’s why it’s another aspect of the football but in the end we’re not going to win or lose for the tackles.”

“They are tough on the counter-defend so well. We tried until the end but there are good things in every game. it is difficult after 2-0 and 3-0.

“They would play long balls, we knew that. with the second balls, they were looking to our back four and did well.

“It is not about the system.”

Guardiola also raised eyebrows by praising his defence at the King Power Stadium, before stating that he is not the only manager who needs longer to implement his ideas.

He added:

“We defended well with these players at the start of the season and during the season, we have to stand up and analyse and players to step forward.

“All managers need time.”