The scenario is known: Manchester City bowed in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, an unexpected reverse which ends a frustrating season in terms of major trophies. Usually a follower of discretion and decline after defeats, Pep Guardiola this time chose to respond head on the criticisms that have been flourishing since Saturday. The Spaniard, little used to this register, wanted to recall in front of the microphones that City did not go out empty -handed this season.
This is where the coach's speech changed in the unusual, even the surrealist. Confronted with the idea of a white season, Guardiola hastened to brandish victory in community shield, this English Supercup often relegated to the rank of symbolic trophy.
“The others have won nothing …”, he launched, as if to minimize the scope of the disappointment. A pirouette that has trouble convincing, as we know that the Catalan technician has never been used to hiding behind this type of arguments.
After the defeat in FA Cup, Pep Guardiola stuck
For those who follow Guardiola's career, this justification has everything a warning signal. The coach, formerly so dominating, seemed above this kind of debate, preferring to let the ground speak. Today, he gives the impression of looking for attenuating circumstances, even if it means falling into irony or bad faith. Would this shift raises question: would Guardiola be losing his mojo? Cold insurance of large evenings is crumbling, replaced by an unusual feverishness.
After the rout of Wembley, Guardiola blurs the message and sows doubt
In Manchester City, this posture is debated. The locker room and the supporters are struggling to join this new rhetoric, as the bar has been placed high in recent seasons. Accumulate justifications after each failure has never been the trademark of Guardiola. This season, he seems to undergo more than he masters, and will quickly have to regain his authority to avoid installing a deleterious climate in the group.
The future promises to be decisive for Pep Guardiola. If he wants to breathe breathe with City, he will have to find the inspiration that has made his legend and stop taking refuge behind excuses. This season will have shown it: even the older ones can doubt. The Catalan coach's response will be played on the field, and everything suggests that he will have to reinvent himself to bring Manchester City to the top.
