Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City have lost their fear factor and need to restore “who we are” but backed his side to challenge for honors next season, while Kyle Walker Credit transfer confirmed in Milan.
The reigning Premier League champions are fifth in the table and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool after a disappointing first half in their title defense ahead of Chelsea’s visit on Saturday. City beat Chelsea on the opening day of the season at Stamford Bridge but have just one of two victories over teams in the top nine, the other being a 3-0 home win against Nottingham Forest.
“We have to fix who we are, what we do with the ball,” admitted Guardiola. “The first team I called years ago. [who] Made a mark [on City] Neil Warnock had Cardiff, and we suffered. And after Atalanta with [Gian Piero] The Gasperini are all now, it doesn’t matter.
“I remember people coming here and having to stay back, have to leave the process. Now everyone comes here, it doesn’t matter, man to man. They just jump to Ederson, Stefan. [Ortega]then you have to adapt. And then improve it with the ball. Otherwise you will be happy not to qualify for the Champions League.
The need to refresh the squad saw the arrival of three players at the Etihad Stadium last week. Omar Marmos joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59.1m, followed by Vitor Reis from Palmeiras for £29.6m and Abdul Kudir Khasanov from Lens for £33.8m. The trio will go straight into the squad for the trip to Chelsea, for whom Ruben Dias and Jeremy Duco are out through injury.
After winning four titles in a row, the drop-off at City has been remarkable, but the manager is adamant it is temporary. “Next season we’ll be back,” he said. “Really now, it’s a question of surviving, qualifying, fighting for the title if possible, otherwise accepting the reality is completely different than the last eight or nine years.”
City will leapfrog Chelsea into fourth with victory on Saturday and Guardiola was asked if a top-four finish would be like securing silverware for his side. “Yes,” he replied. “I remember Jose. [Mourinho] Said to have finished second several times this season. [with ÂManchester United] was the biggest success. I totally understand.”
As Walker’s move to Milan was confirmed, subject to international clearance, the defender bid an emotional farewell to City. The player’s temporary move comes with an option to buy for the Italian club in the summer and the 34-year-old champion has since been informed he wants to leave.
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Walker said: “Signing for this incredible club in 2017 was a dream come true. Seven years on, winning 17 trophies, including the Champions League and the famous treble, is something I could only dream of as a child.
“Playing with so many talented players has pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity. To my teammates, I felt at home from the moment I walked through the door. Thank you for the wonderful memories and all the successes we have shared, but also family for life, so much for believing in me and bringing me here in 2017 Thanks for the hard work.
Walker won six Premier Leagues, the Champions League, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup at City.
