Pep: Regrets? Maybe yeah, but we will learn
LONDON: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola finds nothing abnormal in his team’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur but wants the side to learn from Sunday’s loss and put their Premier League campaign back on track.
City could not cope with the intensity, pace and pressing of Spurs, ending Guardiola’s hopes of becoming the first manager to win his first seven Premier League matches.
“We had problems; they were one step in front of us and we have to learn from that. Do I have regrets about my decisions? Maybe yeah. But we will learn so it doesn’t happen again,” Guardiola said.
“I never thought that we would not lose a game. It is normal to the process; it can help us improve. At the end of the season you can win and still realise that you’re not perfect.”
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss believes Spurs, who now sit second in the standings, are strong contenders for the league title.
“They were fighting for the Premier League last season. We knew how aggressive they are. If you watch last season they were there,” Guardiola said. “Can they also win the league? Why not?
Meanwhile, Manchester United have asked the Armenian Football Federation (FFA) to allow midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan to miss the World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Poland in order to complete his recovery from a thigh injury.
The Armenia captain, who missed United’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Stoke City on Sunday, is unlikely to feature in the matches against Romania on Saturday and Poland next week because of the injury, the FFA said on Monday.
“Henrikh is still undergoing late stage rehabilitation from the left thigh muscle injury that he sustained earlier this month whilst playing for Manchester United,” Steve McNally, United’s head of medicine, said.
“In view of that I would be grateful if he could be allowed to withdraw from the National Team for the forthcoming training camp and FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches in order to remain in Manchester to complete his rehabilitation.” – Reuters