Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed he was surprised by Liverpool fans who mocked his side’s dismal run with calls for him to be sacked by the champions.
The home fans at Anfield sang for Guardiola as City slumped to a fourth straight Premier League defeat, losing 2-0 as part of the worst run of the Spaniard’s trophy-laden reign
Liverpool are the only team other than City to have been champions for the past seven seasons and Guardiola has repeatedly responded to the crowd by holding up six fingers to signify the number of titles he has won in those campaigns.
Liverpool fans started chanting ‘You’re sacked in the morning’ after the final whistle at Anfield…
Pep Guardiola immediately responded by showing them how many Premier League trophies he has won with Manchester City 👀🏆 pic.twitter.com/mDDkbAjL6l
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 1, 2024
Guardiola: “The stadiums want to fire me”
“All the stadiums want to sack me,” laughed Guardiola, adding that he first heard chants of his sacking from Brighton & Hove Albion fans when City lost 2-1 at the Amex Stadium on November 9.
“Maybe they’re right. maybe I should be fired for the results we’ve had. I didn’t expect this at Anfield. They didn’t do it at 1-0, but at 2-0. Maybe they should have sung it in the past, not now.
“I didn’t expect it from Liverpool people but it’s fine, it’s part of the game. I completely understand and accept that. We had incredible battles together – they won, we won. I have respect for them.”
“Managers hear this every week” 😅
Roy Keane says this experience has made Pep seem more ordinary to other managers 👏 pic.twitter.com/Cqg5e0TgU5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 1, 2024
Unstoppable Liverpool vs Manchester City
Cody Gakpo scored the opener in the 12th minute as part of a dominant first-half display from the Reds, with Mohamed Salah’s 78th-minute penalty sealing their sixth straight win and first in five attempts against City.
“In the first 15 to 20 minutes they were unstoppable,” Guardiola said. “They started off so strong… I congratulate them and we will reset and start from scratch. It’s hard to believe.
“I rely a lot on these players … all I can say is thank you because I know the commitment they showed with and without the ball.”
City took 10 points from four games after key midfielder Rodry suffered a season-ending knee injury on September 22, but have since slumped spectacularly, losing six of seven games to throw away a 3-0 lead and draw 3-3 at Feyenoord headquarters. the other.
Guardiola said other problems, including playmaker Kevin De Bruyne’s struggle for full fitness, had affected his side, who sit 11 points behind leaders Liverpool after 13 games.
It’s coming 👀 pic.twitter.com/JzterQpv4Z
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 1, 2024
De Bruyne: “Good minutes” for De Bruyne
“There is a moment when maybe it clicks,” Guardiola hoped. “Today, Kevin played good minutes and Jack (Grealish) played good … and Jeremy (Doku) played good minutes after a month out.
“Bernardo (Silva) and Rico (Luis) have a lot of minutes on their feet. Nathan (Ake) was excellent… we had no preparation and then (we had) injuries, but we know that and we have to survive with that.
“We fought but didn’t create many chances. We don’t have the pace in the middle at the moment and they are stronger in duels and you have to survive with the ball.
“…there’s something that just feels wrong right now.”
Gary Neville comments on Manchester City’s recent poor form😳 pic.twitter.com/0iYtkUzZRc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 1, 2024
“We’re not good in transitions over 30-40 meters compared to (Liverpool). We had to adapt and we did. I can’t forget which players I have.
“I’m sitting here as a coach and defending what we’ve done in the past thanks to them and, more than ever, I want to be with them and embrace them.”
City host Nottingham Forest, who sit a point below them in the table, on Wednesday (7.30pm GMT). They then visit fourth-bottom Crystal Palace on Saturday (3pm).
