‘Tell him to pack his belongings and leave my club immediately, because I DO NOT TOLERATE LAZY players…I can’t be paying high salary on Him and not benefiting from Him’: Manchester City owner has ordered Pep Guardiola they must sell £43 million FLOP as soon as possible or risk losing their jobs
Pep Guardiola has maintained that Manchester City can draw encouragement from their goalless stalemate at Sunderland on New Year’s Day, despite the frustrating outcome.
City had to accept a share of the spoils at the Stadium of Light, even after controlling significant portions of the match, as Sunderland’s well-organized defense held firm throughout the encounter.
The outcome means Guardiola’s men find themselves trailing in the Premier League title pursuit, especially following Arsenal’s impressive triumph over Aston Villa at the Emirates, yet there appeared to be no panic within City’s ranks.
The game unfolded in a manner that has become increasingly common for City recently, with the visitors dictating play and possession but struggling to find the clinical edge in the final third. Warning signs emerged early when Bernardo Silva had a close-range effort disallowed for an offside infringement, while Erling Haaland squandered a decent opportunity before the break.
Sunderland weren’t simply content to defend, occasionally launching dangerous counter-attacks that kept City honest. A bright spot came in midfield, where Rodri’s introduction after half-time provided the stability and calm Guardiola has repeatedly emphasized as vital during the club’s grueling winter fixture period.
City ramped up the pressure after the restart, with Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku both coming agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock, highlighting how slim the margins were between control and conquest.
In his immediate post-match interview with television reporters, Guardiola delivered an upbeat assessment when questioned about what seemed like a disappointing evening at the Stadium of Light.
“Good! We take the point. Second-half was excellent,” Guardiola remarked. “We cannot score in the six-yard box, how many times in the six-yard box against the keeper or another and could not convert.
“Of course, the threat they have is really good. But really pleased with the performance, especially second-half,” Guardiola added. “That’s the mystery! I don’t have an answer for your question,” he responded when pressed about City’s inability to find the breakthrough.
“We created a lot against THAT team, in THIS stadium – especially second-half. First-half we struggled simply because we struggled against their pressing, but Rodri gave us the extra pass, the composure to break the line and after we could run. Second-half was much, much better.”
Expanding on his thoughts in the formal press conference, Guardiola acknowledged, “I’m so proud and delighted with the way we played in this difficult stadium and against this difficult opponent. We did everything to win, but at the end we could not do it.”
However, when questioned whether disappointment lingered after the trip to the North-East, the Spanish manager responded firmly, “No. I’m old enough to not be frustrated for a result in football.”
City now face an unforgiving schedule ahead, with barely any breathing room as domestic league matches and European fixtures continue to accumulate at a rapid pace.
As previously reported, Pep Guardiola is likely to utilize rotation extensively and tap into his squad’s depth, particularly given the defensive injury concerns that have already surfaced. While these dropped points could prove significant as the season progresses, Guardiola’s remarks indicate the belief within the camp remains strong.
Should Manchester City manage to combine performances of this caliber with improved finishing in upcoming fixtures, the Sunderland stalemate might ultimately be remembered as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block.
