PEP OFFERS A CASE FOR DEFENCE
PEP Guardiola has launched a passionate defence of his players after their record-breaking sprint to a ton of Premier League wins.
And the City boss hit out at the critics who have a knee-jerk response to every win and every defeat, calling for greater perspective. The 2-0 win over Sheffield United meant that Guardiola’s City reached 100 league wins in 134 games, beating Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea by eight - and way ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool with 159, on third place.
But the five defeats they have suffered this season, and the way Liverpool have kept their foot on the accelerator, have led to question marks about Guardiola and his squad.
Guardiola’s new record will take some beating, but he pushed the glory onto his players when asked about it.
“It shows how incredible these players are, to have done what they have done in the last few years,” he said.
“People want to burn everything when we lose a game, and when we win, it is whether we are able to catch Liverpool. That’s been the trend, the topic, for the last month.
“But if you have perspective, and take a perspective of what they have done, to achieve 100 victories in 134 games, these players are idols and heroes. They will remain in my heart for the rest of my life.
“That’s why I will always support them in the bad moments. I will always be there because they deserve it.
“What they have done is really, honestly, incredible.
“It is perfect for the whole staff, and especially for these players. It shows how few games we lost in the 100 points season, and people talk about how many games we have lost this season.” Guardiola said that the exceptional achievements of the last three and a half seasons should also give his players some leeway for this season, with Liverpool currently running away with the Premier League title.
And he said that qualifying for the Champions League next season would represent a triumph after two consecutive titles. “We are distant numbers away (from Liverpool) for many reasons, but especially because of the quality they have, which is incredible,” he said.
“It’s almost impossible (to catch them) but if we were to qualify for the Champions League next season, after what we have just done, with 100 victories in 134 games, maybe we deserve to continue next year.”