Punishment ‘self-inflicted’
Pep Guardiola’s League Cup triumph against Arsenal could usher in an era of dominance for Manchester City but he had three veterans to thank for a comprehensive win at Wembley.
City were not at their best in a scrappy first half on a bitingly cold February day on Sunday, failing to hit the exalted heights of their football earlier this season.
The highlight of the opening period was a bizarre opener for Sergio Aguero, who netted his 199th goal for the club direct from a punt down the field by City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo – a rare route-one goal for a side renowned for their intricate football.
But it was men against boys after the break as City totally dominated a disappointing Arsenal side, cantering to a 3-0 win with further goals from an ecstatic Vincent Kompany and David Silva.
The League Cup may seem like small fry to a man with a glittering CV that includes two Champions League triumphs while in charge of Barcelona and a clutch of league titles with Bayern Munich.
But an emotional Guardiola knows that winning the first silverware is crucial to infusing his runaway Premier League leaders with the belief to go on and win bigger prizes.
“It’s important,” said the Catalan. “We’re so happy, and big congratulations to all of Manchester City, and our fans. This trophy is for Manchester City and not for me.
“The first half was not good but in the second half we played really well,” he said.
City saw their dreams of an unprecedented quadruple shattered just six days before the Wembley final when third-tier Wigan dumped them out of the FA Cup.
But a 13-point lead in the Premier League means they are champions-elect and they have one foot in the Champions League quarterfinals after a 4-0 victory against Basel in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Guardiola said although winning his first trophy at the club means a lot to him personally, he is just a chapter in City’s history.
Guardiola said Aguero, Silva and Kompany were three legends who had helped turn the club from perennial under-achievers into regular trophy winners, capable of going toe to toe with the heavyweights of Europe and challenging regularly for honours.
“They help us to understand what it means for the club because they have won titles, and are putting pressure on us to continue to win titles,” he said.
“If we are able to win more titles in the future the people who are coming here, they have to know here you have to win titles and that’s why it’s so, so important.”
A relaxed-looking Guardiola thanked the club’s hierarchy for sticking with him during a barren first season at the helm of the club last year, when many questioned whether his “pure” brand of football would work in England.
He admitted he had imposed heavy demands on his players but said he never doubted himself.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, one of the standout players in England this year, said the sky is the limit for the club.
“We have had a good season already, and now we need to keep going,” he said. “We have this one in the bag and now we have to maintain the same focus in the Premier League and the Champions League.
“The potential for this club is amazing, and the way we play is probably one of the best in the world.” – AFP
– Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (above) rued his team’s defensive errors after their 3-0 capitulation in the League Cup final on Sunday, but he also said the video replay system should have ruled one of the goals out.
The north London club have now lost a record six League Cup finals – three under Arsene Wenger who has never won the trophy – while City have triumphed three times in five years.
“We self-inflicted our punishment,” the Frenchman told a news conference after the game.
“You can never say you’re not disappointed when you concede goals the way we conceded goals. But you take the good and the bad when you’re the manager and that’s part of the game.”
Goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva gave City an easy win in the first ever domestic final clash between the sides.
Wenger said Kompany’s goal in the second half should have been ruled offside by the Video Assistant Referee, being used for the first time in a cup final in England.
“The second goal is offside. I don’t know, we accepted the VAR, I just watched it again. It’s a mystery for me how you can watch that on replay and not give offside,” said the Frenchman.
He also defended his decision to field three at the back instead of four, saying that formation had worked well before, including against Manchester City.
“The goals we conceded could not be explained by the fact that we played with three at the back. I don’t think the system was especially questioned on that,” he said.
Arsenal are sixth in the Premier League, 10 points behind the Champions League qualifying places, meaning their most likely way into Europe’s elite club competition next season is by winning the Europa League. – AFP