Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that he made a mistake with his tactics in their recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Guardiola made three changes to the team that had secured the Premier League title by defeating West Ham the previous weekend. However, at half-time and trailing 2-0, he reversed two of those changes by bringing on Jeremy Doku and Manuel Akanji for Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake.
After the match, Guardiola acknowledged his error, saying, “Congratulations to Manchester United on winning the FA Cup. I think my gameplan was not good. The second half was much better, we were more intense, but we were 2-0 down and had nothing to lose. It was a tight game.”
Guardiola also highlighted the clear chances that his team had in the second half, despite United’s defensive tactics. He mentioned that they scored a goal late in the game but lamented that it wasn’t enough to secure victory.
This defeat marked Guardiola’s first loss in a domestic cup final in England, having previously won four League Cups and two FA Cups. However, he remained positive about his team’s overall performance this season, stating, “It’s normal for teams to lose finals, but this season has been extraordinary, fighting for all the trophies in a good way. We’ll rest and come back next season.”
When questioned about whether his team appeared sluggish, Guardiola dismissed the notion, emphasizing that it was his tactical decisions that were at fault. He admitted that his gameplan did not work and that he was not good on the day. He explained that he had planned the game differently but it didn’t pan out as expected.
Guardiola also mentioned that when facing Manchester United, his team usually has control over the game and creates scoring opportunities. However, they were unable to capitalize on their chances in this particular match.
Overall, Guardiola’s admission of his mistake and recognition of his team’s performance shows his willingness to take responsibility and learn from the defeat. With Manchester City’s impressive season, it is clear that Guardiola will use this experience to regroup and come back stronger in the next campaign.