Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has defended his philosophy and tactics as the Citizens continue to struggle in the Premier League.
The former Barcelona boss has faced heat for being too stubborn with his philosophy.
In an interview with Thierry Henry Pep Guardiola said, “The people say ‘you have to be more pragmatic, more clinical’. More pragmatic than me? I’m sorry. Like numbers – pragmatic is numbers. When we’re talking about pragmatic we’re not talking about ‘the way’ or something to discuss about football – it’s numbers. And numbers, I am good,” he explained.”
“We’re talking about numbers. People say, ‘Pep won in Barcelona, but it was boring’ or, ‘Pep won in the teams in Bayern, but it was boring’. I understand completely, but understand that numbers – goals conceded, goals [scored] make titles and… sorry guys, it was good.”
“People say we want to play our football, our way,” Guardiola added. “That doesn’t mean my football idea is special or different or better than the other ones. I’m sorry guys, I’m sorry – I’m not talking about my football, my idea and the other coaches and managers [makes sweeping motion], they are nothing, I am the special… no, I’m not talking about that.”
“It’s the way I believe. Like, Tony Pulis, I appreciate a lot – he took care of me. Tony, you are the best. He took care of me like never a manager has taken care of me before, so… he plays football he believes, and it’s perfect. I am not judging about that.”
“[Man City] contacted me to make something I believe. It’s simple like that. I’m not here to make fantastic football for the beauty, I am here to win games. I’m here to make the fans happy when we win the games, to be there fighting for the titles.”
“But the way you win titles is in that way. It’s what I did in the past, in the second team of Barcelona, in four years in Barcelona, in three years in Germany and now here.”
“I am not judging the other [coaches], what they are going to do. I respect them a lot – I am not talking about ‘they are not good’ – never have I said this in my life. Never. Maybe [my style is] completely different, but that’s the game.”
“When you’re playing chess, in the last finals of the Chess World Cup, one plays in one way and the other [another] one. That is what is nice and I came here to prove in that way we can [be successful].”