Pep Guardiola has praised Manchester Metropolis for being an “trustworthy group” who tried to win within the face of Arsenal’s “behaviours” in Sunday’s controversial 2-2 draw on the Etihad Stadium.
Leandro Trossard’s pink card following a second warning for kicking the ball away on the finish of the primary half got here as Arsenal led 2-1. With 10 gamers for the rest of the match, Mikel Arteta instructed his aspect to decelerate proceedings by way of numerous strategies. Metropolis lastly equalised when John Stones struck within the 99th minute.
Guardiola was requested how his group tried to deal with Arsenal’s try to shut out a primary win at Metropolis since 2015. “Give attention to the sport and defend your self,” he stated. “Attempt to do what we’ve completed for a few years. Defend your self, that’s all I ask. I do know what the opponents are going to do. Tactically there’s at all times a solution to attempt to do it. The behaviours we can not management, don’t go away from what’s vital: the sport. We’re an trustworthy group. We attempt to do our greatest.”
After the sport Stones and Bernardo Silva criticised Arsenal’s “soiled” strategy and “time losing”, with Manuel Akanji happening to explain Arteta’s aspect as masters of the so-called darkish arts. “Sure, I don’t assume there are various higher than them at it,” stated the Switzerland defender. “At all times after we play in opposition to them, that’s what they’re searching for – going exhausting within the duels, defence, 11 gamers in their very own field after which go on set-pieces and attempt to rating a aim. However in the long run we at all times gained the title and I don’t assume it’s going to be totally different this 12 months.”
When pressed on how troublesome it was to disregard Arsenal’s techniques on Sunday, Guardiola stated: “Don’t ask me, I can not reply that query. There are issues I can not management. They [officials] are involved if I’m two metres away from my technical space. The remaining? Pay attention, I’m not there.”
The Metropolis supervisor referenced the 2010 Champions League last-four match, the place – in control of Barcelona – he couldn’t discover a solution to beat an Internazionale aspect that had been right down to 10 males. “I performed many instances, I misplaced a semi-final in opposition to Inter at house 10 in opposition to 11 and we weren’t capable of come again as a result of there have been at all times issues,” he stated. “It’s troublesome to handle, which is why it’s a must to be calm.
“Don’t make fouls. Give rhythm to their recreation as little as attainable. I perceive: 10 in opposition to 11, [David] Raya takes his time, the lengthy balls. Typically cramp, one other cramp. However keep within the recreation. It’s troublesome. We did it very well. It was an entertaining recreation and I take the purpose.”
Metropolis lead the Premier League with 13 factors, two greater than Arsenal who at the moment are fourth. “We’re enjoying good,” stated Guardiola. “You count on to undergo in opposition to Arsenal and so they had conditions. They defended so deep, [Bukayo] Saka got here inside lots – it’s not straightforward. They’re a extremely robust opponent, contenders the final two years. We had been fortunate to beat them [to those titles] and we all know it.
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“We talked about it after the sport, that that is the extent of our contenders. We deal with it, settle for the problem and have 99 factors [to play for].”
Whereas Metropolis will assess Rodri after the Spain midfielder suffered what appeared to a critical knee harm within the first half, resulting in him being changed by Mateo Kovacic after 21 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne stays unavailable for Tuesday’s go to of Watford within the Carabao Cup attributable to a leg downside. On De Bruyne, Guardiola stated “I don’t assume it’ll be lengthy” earlier than the Belgian returns to motion, suggesting he wouldn’t characteristic in opposition to Watford however that he was not but dominated out for the league recreation at Newcastle on Saturday.
In the meantime Erling Haaland, who opened the scoring on Sunday together with his one hundredth aim for Metropolis, won’t face Soccer Affiliation motion for throwing the ball at Gabriel Magalhães amid the house group’s celebrations following Stones’s aim. The Norway worldwide may also not face FA motion for his heated alternate with Gabriel Jesus after the full-time whistle.
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