Pep Guardiola’s post-match interview following Manchester City’s horror defeat to Tottenham Hotspur has been picked apart by rival fans.
On Saturday night, City took on Spurs at the Etihad Stadium, looking to end their four-match losing streak.
However, Guardiola’s men were nowhere from start to finish as Spurs took them to the cleaners.
A brace from James Maddison in the first half plus goals from Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson saw Spurs win 4–0.
As a result, City have now lost five games in a row ahead of crucial matches against Feyenoord and Liverpool next week.
After the match, City boss Guardiola told Sky Sports: “We don’t expect opponents not to create chances and score goals. We are in the moment. We started very well, we had chances and after the first time they arrived, we conceded. Then it is a bit more difficult to come back.
“The chances were there. When they created the chances in the build-up, we couldn’t handle the matches as normal. Now we’re having a bit of a hard time. That can’t happen. When you play against top-level teams, we can giving away opportunities, but it is part of the process. In our situation it is a bit more difficult.
“I have to look at the situation. The players came back late [from internationals]. There were a few reasons why we couldn’t be consistent. Now the balance is not at the right time. But it happened. We have to do it, talk about it and on Tuesday against Feyenoord we have the chance to try.
He added: “Of course Rodri is important, but we knew that for months. But Stones can only play 45 minutes. Jack has been injured many times. Kevin, two months and five months. We have to come back and refresh our minds.” The season is so long.
“Before the match I didn’t know what would happen today. So I don’t know what will happen at Anfield. Everyone knows the situation is new for us. We struggled more without the ball. I don’t know how many chances we created .Our game was there.”
Fans on social media were unhappy with the excuses the City boss came up with.
One said: “Hahahaha Pep is always full of excuses.
“The players came back late (from international break)” – same for EVERY team after international break!!!
“We can’t do this, we can’t do that. The media is protecting him. Imagine if Arteta said this!! The media would bury him!!!”
Another tweeted: “I don’t want to hear any silly excuses! This is all on Pep!”
A third fan added: “Pep just took every excuse out of the book…”
Someone else wrote: “Sorry, so fast? They’re just missing Rodri. Surely a tactical mastermind like Pep can deal with that?”