Pep Guardiola admits to poor performance in Manchester City's disappointing season

In England, Manchester City’s boss Pep Guardiola has openly expressed disappointment with his management this season. His statement came amid a challenging campaign where City has struggled to defend their Premier League title and exited the Champions League earlier than expected, in the round of 16. Guardiola pointed out that the team's physical level had dropped, a factor he believes contributed to their poor performance this season. One significant injury issue was the long-term absence of Rodri, which affected their overall game. Despite having a track record of success with 18 trophies in nine years, Guardiola is taking personal responsibility for this season's struggles. He mentioned that winning titles in the past was due to high standards and a strong squad, but the current team lacked a robust performance against their opponents, which he termed as not giving them an easy path to victory. Because of this, he felt that there were several aspects to remedy in hopes of improving in the upcoming season. City’s revised objectives for the remainder of the season include securing qualification for the Champions League and winning the FA Cup. However, Guardiola is clear that achieving these goals would not erase the disappointment he feels about the overall performance throughout the season. His comments depicted a sense of urgency to rectify the situation as they head towards critical matches, including a quarter-final FA Cup match against Bournemouth. The results reflect deeper issues within the squad, further complicated by the expected departures of significant players at the end of their contracts. Key figures such as Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan may leave, while Kyle Walker has already gone on loan to AC Milan. This poses a challenge for Guardiola as he needs to rebuild and create a new identity for the team. Although he has historically been successful in adapting his teams, this season has tested his capabilities and placed him under scrutiny. Manchester City views Guardiola as vital for leading the rebuild, as they aim to restore their status as a dominant force in English soccer.