Pep Guardiola said Manchester City pulling level with Arsenal was “not the point” and said his team “have to play better” despite beating West Ham 3-0.
City secured an equalisation 3-0 win against the Hammers thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland and a Tijjani Reijnders but Guardiola, in his typical fashion, looked like a manager on the opposite end of that scoreline in his post-match.
Speaking to the BBC, Guardiola said the team was “still away” from where he wants them to be.
“Some things have been really good, the others no,” he said. “But that’s nice because we have margin to improve.
“Defensively, we were so good and in many, many aspects. We are moving well, the aggression of the players.
“Erling shows us that is really, really important, but without the ball, with the ball, we are still away.”
Guardiola went on to suggest his team was “not brave enough” to achieve some of the aspects that he wants.
“It’s my feeling that we’re not brave enough to do ‘okay we’re going to break the lines are going to do it, and that’s why.”
Guardiola was then asked for his thoughts on being near the top on Christmas, at which point he said “That is not the point, we have to play better” before leaving.
Despite his complaints, Guardiola did state his happiness for his team still being in every competition.
“I’m really happy at the position in the table. It doesn’t matter what first or second today. Important is, is we are close to the top of the league.
“In the Champions League, we are there. Semifinals Carabao Cup. The players are tough, of course, we miss now seven players, five injuries, two in African Cup, and that, that is a little bit tough, but to handle it for many games, but we have to improve.”
Goalscorer Reijnders was a little more positive, stating his belief that City “controlled” the game for a large part of it.
“Only the beginning of the second half we didn’t start quite so well,” he said. “A big part of the game we controlled it and we could have made more chances if we were more secure in certain situations.
“It’s new, I think, for every player who comes here. The tactics are different from my other clubs; the guys help me a lot with adjusting, and I feel pretty settled here.
“It’s good. We put on a very good streak. For us, we have to keep going. It’s not finished. Keep pressure on Arsenal, and it’s a good time going into Christmas like this.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What did Guardiola say about the team’s performance?
Guardiola mentioned that the team “have to play better” despite the victory.
2. Who scored the goals in the match against West Ham?
Erling Haaland scored two goals, and Tijjani Reijnders added another.
3. What did Guardiola think about being near the top of the table?
Guardiola felt that being near the top wasn’t the point and emphasized the need for improvement.
4. How did Reijnders feel about the game?
Reijnders expressed confidence, stating that City “controlled” most of the game.
5. What challenges did Guardiola mention regarding team players?
He noted missing seven players due to injuries and the African Cup.
6. Did Guardiola express satisfaction with his team?
Yes, he stated he was happy with the team’s position in the table.
7. What is important to Guardiola despite the team’s position?
The key for him is continuing to improve and perform better on the pitch.