PEP’S BLUES

City gaffer admits he doubted himself in first season at Etihad

PEP GUARDIOLA confesses he had self-doubts after ending up trophyless in his first season at Manchester City.

City clinched the Premier League with a record 100-point total this season, as well as securing the title by a recordbreaking margin of 19 points.

But Guardiola says his first season in England proved to be a major wake-up call for him.

And the Catalan, who yesterday agreed a new, three-year deal at City, admitted he feared he would not enjoy the same success he had at Barcelona and Bayern Munich after a tough first season at City, when he won nothing.

“Last season helped us to understand a lot of things, which we applied to this season,” said Guardiola.

“People often believe coaches, no matter who they are, arrive at a club and things start working fine – but it’s not like that.

“Sometimes it goes faster, but sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes, I thought, I won’t accomplish the same things as I usually do.

“I was very clear – from where I want to play, how I want to play, with who I want to play and how we are doing it.

“But if you don’t succeed, you just go home and that’s it. No problem.” After success at Barca and Bayern, Guardiola suggested England has proved to be his toughest managerial test.

He and his staff had to overcome several challenges before they could land the title.

“In England, I found a very tough league,” Guardiola told ESPN. “Many fixtures and weather conditions that affect the game.

“There’s a lot of contact, referees let a lot of things go.

“It’s a very intense league and we controlled it all season.

“When I left Barcelona, I thought my chance to revolutionise had ended, but no.

“We’ve seen there’s always a way to do new things, especially as you have different players.

“We had so much success here in Manchester and in Barcelona because of the central midfielders.

“Xavi was a player with outstanding control and dynamic – he couldn’t lose the ball. He could control the game rhythm. Andres Iniesta is similar.

“And David Silva is a mixture of both. David also knows when to control and when to accelerate.

“Kevin (De Bruyne, right, with Silva) is exuberant. He’s not a controller, he’s more dynamic, coming from behind, finishing, crossing, appearing here, then there, defending, attacking. He’s a complete player.”