You’re write out of order
EVERY KICK, EVERY GOAL, EVERY GAME GUARDIOLA FIRES BACK AT CRITICS
PEP GUARDIOLA has blasted pundits who he claims disrespect Premier League managers.
The Manchester City boss hit out at the critics of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as he defended his own mass team changes at Huddersfield.
Guardiola made eight changes for the goalless draw in front of a record football crowd at the John Smith’s Stadium.
And he saw his lacklustre second string fail to see off the Championship Terriers.
But when asked if he regretted his decision to change personnel, he laid into his own critics and those who have called for Wenger’s head.
“My friend, I take my decisions and you analyse them after,” he told a reporter.
“I have to take the decision before. The best solution was what I’d done. After, if you don’t agree, you can write about it.
“What I’ve heard in the last 10 days about how the people – former players and journalists – treated Arsene Wenger, for example, is unacceptable.
“What happened was disrespectful. Our job at the moment... we don’t have any respect for any position. We take decisions and you can say whatever you want.”
City now face an unwanted replay next Tuesday against a Huddersfield side who are also chasing promotion to the Premier League. Boss David Wagner made seven changes too with his side facing a vital league game against Reading tomorrow.
And the German also defended his policy, saying: “Everybody who follows us knows that more or less since the beginning of December we rotated the team.
“So five, six, seven, sometimes even eight or nine changes from game to game is not something extraordinary.
“It doesn’t depend on performances in the games before, it only depends on who is in front of us and with which squad we are able to be competitive.
“I was really sure that this would be the team where we are most competitive.”
A disappointing day all round for City also saw unused substitute Raheem Sterling narrowly missed by a plastic bottle thrown by a fan in the main stand.
But it was events on the field that concerned Guardiola most, with his side unable to break down Wagner’s team.
Their best chances came in the opening minutes when Terriers keeper Joel Coleman saved bravely at Nolito’s feet before captain Mark Hudson made a vital block on the line from Jesus Navas’ follow-up shot.
Coleman also saved twice from Sergio Aguero but the hosts had chances too, with Rajiv van la Parra twice denied by City keeper Claudio Bravo.
City face a Champions League clash with Monaco tomorrow and midfielder Fernando said: “Our target was to win. We didn’t but we don’t have to have any regrets.
“We just have to focus on the replay and make sure we get through.
“We know that Monaco are a good team. They are playing well in their league. We know it will be a really difficult game, but we are ready to face them.”
Huddersfield midfielder Izzy Brown – on loan from Chelsea – said: “We’ve drawn 0-0 against one of the best teams in the Premier League.
“It shows we are ready to fight against the best opposition and that we’re well equipped to deal with the best players. The boys did really well.”