Perfectionist Pep: Manchester City 'not ready' yet for Europe's best
Despite Manchester City winning six matches to start the season, Pep Guardiola, always reaching for utopia, claims his side is ‘not ready’ to compete against the elite clubs of Europe in the UEFA Champions League.
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Pep, Pep, Pep (*shakes head). Sometimes his perfectionism seems rather imperfect.
After proving up to the biggest task of the season so far, defeating a revamped, Jose Mourinho-led Manchester United Sunday at Old Trafford without the world class Sergio Agüero, Guardiola told the press his team is not where it needs to be to challenge the greatest among Europe’s clubs.
The Catalan opined:
Until now, in the Premier League it has been OK — but to compete against the best clubs in Europe, in this moment with the way we are playing, we are not able to.” Guardiola said.
“We have played, not all of the games, but part of most of the games at a high level, and of course we have to continue.
“If you ask me whether we are ready to compete in Europe, we are not ready. We create, but in front we need more. But it is just two months together, so we have time to get better.
What? Sure, City can improve and play more consistently at the premium level it exhibited in the first 40 minutes of yesterday’s derby. Though not competing in the competition this season, Manchester United is a Champions League caliber side, boasting Mourinho, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. There were significant periods of that match that made the case that City was a class or two above United. And that doesn’t inspire confidence for Guardiola?
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After four matches, it’s clear City is the team to beat in the Premier League. Will the club win it? Maybe. There’s still months to go, but usually the best teams in England, although not achieving a Champions League crown since Chelsea did it in 2012, are competitive in the tournament. City’s clearly among one of the best England. Many players from the core of City’s semifinal squad last season are still around. Why shouldn’t this year’s City, improved with Guardiola, make some noise in Europe in 2017?
I get Guardiola sending a message to his players to not be complacent for the midweek fixture against Borussia Mönchengladbach. It’s a trap game. Plus, Mönchengladbach’s manager Andre Schubert has proven himself and his squad adept when facing Guardiola. The German side took four points against Guardiola’s Bayern Munich last year, including handing the Bavarian giants a 3-1 defeat. I understand why Guardiola would be wary ahead of this tie.
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But this is bollocks about City not being “ready” for sharing Europe’s stage with its finest actors. In the past, City had proven itself too small for the event with early exits. I think the boys are more battle-hardened, as evidenced by what they did at Old Trafford yesterday. They’re tougher and have met the challenge every time they needed to thus far this season. They’re good; they deserve to be in the Champions League. Guardiola should acknowledge their worth, not belittle it.
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