Pep Guardiola has lambasted Manchester City’s critics, calling the notion that they haven’t been successful because they haven’t won the Champions League “bulls***.”
The 4-2 comeback victory over Tottenham, mostly due to a 12-minute blitz after the break, helped the defending champions get their title defense back on track.
At halftime, however, City was looking down the barrel of a fourth loss in 10 Premier League games.
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That’s because Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal scored for Spurs to make a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.
At the half, Man City’s angry fans booed them off the field, which happens extremely rarely at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens reduced the distance between themselves and Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points after to goals from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland, and star player Riyad Mahrez in the second half.
The Algerian star later secured the victory with a superb chip over Hugo Lloris late on.
When asked what his team lacked, Pep Guardiola replied:“Guts, passion, fire, desire to win from minute one. The same with our fans, they are silent for 45 minutes.”
“They booed because we were losing, but not because we played bad. We played good. They booed because we were losing, but maybe it’s like our team.”
“Maybe they’re too comfortable because we have won four Premier Leagues in five years. After we scored a goal they react, but that is not the point.”
Despite criticizing his team’s recent “flowery” performances in a contentious post-match interview with Sky Sports, from which he abruptly walked away in dismay.
“People say we haven’t had success because we haven’t won the Champions League – bulls***! We won a lot.”
“Two back-to-back [Premier Leagues] in this country, and the way we played, the consistency, against this Liverpool. What a success.”
Guardiola continued his stunning outburst after being questioned about why he was being so candid and passionate in his statements.
“I want a reaction – not just from players, staff, the whole organisation.” “We are a happy flowers team, I don’t want this. I want to beat Arsenal. I cannot deny how happy we are [to win].”
“But we are far away from the team that we were. There are many things that we are far away, far away.”
“We play because ‘my manager told me to do this and this’ – but there is nothing from the stomach, the guts.”
“We were lucky, and if we don’t change, sooner or later we are going to drop points. No passion, fire, desire to win from minute one.”
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