Guardiola claims Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal should be top three after spending in last five years
CGA, Manchester, UK
CGA, Manchester, UK
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00:00 Pepe, Mikel was asked yesterday about Arsenal's form,
00:06 they've won 15 and drawn 1 of 17 games, superb consistency from them.
00:13 You could see his pride in that, and yet the knowledge that the title is still not in his team's hands,
00:19 it's in yours. You've only dropped 8 points in 21 matches in the league,
00:26 do you think that's just that unbelievable, relentless efficiency your team have?
00:31 It's just really demoralising for other teams to come up against,
00:36 knowing that you'll never go away.
00:39 They are not demoralised because still they are there.
00:43 They played yesterday and they were able to win the game,
00:49 but the fact that we have done it in so many years is quite impressive, to be honest.
00:56 I cannot say anything to the team about what is going to happen in these last two games.
01:02 It's really unbelievable.
01:05 Still we are there, but I would have loved to demoralise Arsenal
01:11 and get rid of the competition one month ago, but that's not the case.
01:15 They are there, they are waiting. We drop points tomorrow to have the chance in Arsenal's hands
01:21 to win the Premier League in the last game against Everton.
01:24 It happened with Liverpool. Even with the numbers, the consistency of the games,
01:28 when we were in Liverpool, it was quite similar. I would say the same.
01:34 Just that still we are there.
01:36 Do you think the aura that your team have is like a special superpower?
01:44 It's obviously something you've had to earn through everything you've won,
01:48 but is it like a superpower?
01:51 You had it with your Barcelona team as well.
01:54 I think we won for many years the respect for our opponents, that's for sure.
01:59 They know the guys, the teams, Liverpool and Arsenal in that case are there,
02:04 how difficult it is, and every year we are there.
02:07 I wouldn't like to give my word, it sounds like how good we are,
02:14 and the complaint is like it's enough. No, we have something unique in front of our eyes.
02:20 I would have loved to have prepared the game better, but no time.
02:28 You play the final game, the most important game of the season.
02:34 I would say it's just one game, we cannot prepare,
02:39 because we are still recovering from the game against Fulham.
02:43 But we are used to playing in these kinds of situations,
02:46 and we are ready to do it.
02:49 Your substitutes have scored quite a few goals in recent games,
02:55 does it feel to you like you're at a point in the season where you've got very few injuries,
03:01 and everyone who is coming off the bench is helping to make you even stronger?
03:04 Yeah, it's really important.
03:06 Look at the last game, Jeremy, the impact he played in the minutes,
03:11 and Julian Anderson with the goal, and especially the young lads like Rico and Oscar,
03:17 it was unbelievable in the last minute.
03:19 The result was 0-2, 0-3, but it was more comfortable,
03:22 but even with that they played really good.
03:25 We need it of course, because we can play in a certain way,
03:28 so we need another specific quality for the game, for the last minutes or whatever.
03:32 I think the players know that it's not just the club,
03:36 it's not just the manager's stuff, it's for themselves.
03:40 Especially for some of the new ones, to win the first Premier League,
03:44 for the senior guys to have the chance to win the sixth Premier League in seven years,
03:53 four in a row, and something like that is not going to happen again.
03:59 That's why we have to do our best to give us the chance,
04:04 next Sunday the opportunity to win the last game against West Ham and be champions.
04:09 That's why we travel tomorrow to London.
04:13 Hi Pep, you've mentioned a couple of times about the chance to do something unique
04:20 in the four in a row, you've got a couple of other really rare achievements,
04:24 the 100-point season, the treble last year.
04:27 Do things like that really stand out in history?
04:31 Is that something that really motivates you?
04:34 In the beginning of the season, no.
04:38 In the season we didn't think about it at all,
04:41 the four Premier League, but there always has to be something.
04:44 Something like, the moment I think it doesn't matter if I win one Premier League or not,
04:49 the moment I go home, the moment I think I qualify for the semi-final of the Champions League,
04:55 it doesn't matter, I go home.
04:57 But we were in February, March, April, and we were still there, we can do it.
05:02 And after, ignite something in all our heads and say, guys, no team has done it.
05:09 That means how difficult it is.
05:11 Otherwise, Liverpool, 18, St Alex, Ferguson, United, 90s,
05:16 Chelsea with Abrahamovic, Jose, and even Arsenal with Wenger, they would have done it.
05:22 So we've not done it because it's difficult, it's simple as that.
05:25 There are tendencies to complain, the opponents are better, injures,
05:30 many circumstances that happen that you cannot do it.
05:33 And this year we survived with that five-month cabin, with Erling two months out,
05:39 with many problems that we have, new players and everything,
05:42 but still every single team, the people who were there recognised the team.
05:48 A few players may have stepped up, in terms of minutes, in terms of playing really good,
05:55 and our game helps us to be where we are right now.
05:59 And I would say it's not this that's happening to play that tomorrow,
06:04 but it's where it is, so we go for it.
06:09 Richard, please.
06:11 Pep, you're probably aware that a lot of Tottenham fans actually want their team
06:17 to lose to you, to stop their north London rivals Arsenal from winning it.
06:22 In all your experience as a player and a manager, can that transfer,
06:26 that kind of atmosphere, transfer to the players and make them less motivated?
06:30 What do you expect from Tottenham?
06:32 I give them my advice, don't ask these questions to answer the players.
06:35 Don't do it. Don't ask them.
06:39 We'll be offended.
06:41 Yeah, it will be disrespectful.
06:43 We'll be offended.
06:45 I never imagine one player, one manager, don't prepare the game to win it.
06:48 Maybe they have a chance to qualify for the Champions League.
06:51 Of course the rival is the rival, but when you see your team, you want to play good,
06:55 and they will be their best, I'm pretty sure of that.
06:58 Jamie, please.
07:02 Hi, Pep. You're obviously very calm all the time, despite what's going on.
07:08 Sir Alex Ferguson used to call this time of the season "squeaky bum time".
07:12 Translate.
07:14 Oh.
07:16 That's going viral.
07:18 Edgy, as in it's difficult, there's a lot of pressure.
07:23 A lot of pressure.
07:25 We're going to be watching that tonight.
07:27 Squeaky bum time, as in emphasis on the posterior.
07:32 A lot of pressure.
07:34 It means things are happening because of the pressure on you.
07:37 Yeah, physically.
07:39 So I'm just wondering...
07:41 Why, Sir Alex, is it a sentence?
07:47 At this moment, right now.
07:49 I don't know what the Catalan is for flatulence, but it's that sort of thing.
07:52 But anyway, tomorrow at Spurs, this big game, will you be nervous?
07:57 Will you experience squeaky bum time yourself?
07:59 No, no, no.
08:01 I'm going to have to tell the players to introduce Tottenham.
08:04 The game spec we're going to play tomorrow, but tomorrow we'll feel that.
08:07 The tension and the nervous, of course.
08:09 Of course I will feel it, otherwise it will be a bad sign.
08:12 Every game I feel the right tension, but at the same time,
08:17 as much as I know the opponent, I focus on the game.
08:20 As much as I know the opponent, I focus on what they have to do,
08:23 to read what happens during the game.
08:26 To not be so excited and make bad decisions,
08:29 and make my players a little bit anxious for my behaviour.
08:32 Sometimes it happens, unfortunately for me and for the team.
08:35 The rest, I'm fine.
08:37 Just to be calm, to take the right decisions.
08:40 Always have been, not now.
08:42 When is it? September, October, November.
08:44 So at the beginning of the season, it's the same.
08:47 It's nice to have that feeling.
08:49 Any competitor, football player or managers,
08:52 they are not relaxed, like saying it doesn't matter.
08:55 But of course we know what we're playing for.
08:57 It's like a quarter-final, semi-final, second leg, Champions League or FA Cup.
09:03 It's not back, not get back.
09:06 It's simple. Win, okay, lose, bye-bye.
09:10 It's not much complicated.
09:12 A lot of players and managers who have had success in their careers
09:17 say it's the titles and trophies that have got away from them
09:20 that they've lost that they remember the most,
09:22 rather than the ones they've won.
09:24 Is that the feeling...
09:26 Sorry.
09:27 Oh, it was mine. Sorry.
09:30 Sorry.
09:31 Fine.
09:32 Sorry.
09:33 They say it's the titles and trophies they've lost,
09:36 the ones that got away from them that they remember the most,
09:38 rather than the ones they've won.
09:40 Is that fear of failure for you and maybe some of the players as well,
09:43 that as much of a motivation coming up short,
09:46 you don't want to have that feeling,
09:48 as much as winning it is a motivation,
09:50 losing it, you don't want to have that feeling?
09:54 Listen, when I was younger, even as a football player,
09:59 I had that tendency to suffer more time,
10:03 the good feats or the good moments of that moment.
10:07 With time, they handle it much, much better.
10:10 So you lose, you are sad one, two days,
10:13 but after, nothing changes much.
10:17 Because after two, three days, everyone asks you what's next,
10:20 and the other one, you know, it's the journey,
10:23 what is nice to live it, even in the good moments.
10:27 Honestly, I remember the good moments we had in our career
10:31 than the bad moments.
10:32 The bad moment is part of that.
10:34 So there's no guarantee.
10:35 Tomorrow we can lose the game, we can draw the game
10:37 and lose the Premier League.
10:39 Absolutely it can happen.
10:41 There's no doubt about that.
10:43 But at the same time, you have the chance to win the same.
10:46 My mindset is, why are you going to think about it,
10:48 you're going to lose the game.
10:49 My mindset is, we're going to win it.
10:51 Why are we going to win it?
10:53 But we lose.
10:54 It happened, the journey, the season was unbelievable,
10:58 unbelievable, we went to trophies that we didn't have.
11:01 We are in the final FA Cup and fighting again for the Premier League.
11:04 What else can I ask my team, my club, my fans and everything?
11:09 Nothing else.
11:10 We just have to do it again.
11:12 We have been here before, and every time we have done it,
11:15 I don't remember how difficult it has been.
11:17 The people I remember, Aston Villa last game here,
11:20 with the stiffeners, created lots of problems
11:23 with the system I didn't expect in that moment, in that game.
11:28 But to arrive there, it's incredible, it's fantastic.
11:33 How nice it is.
11:35 People remember the winners, so the other ones,
11:40 OK, it would be nice, but it's not enough.
11:43 It's the same in Madrid, Madrid were playing really good,
11:46 but it was not enough.
11:47 Madrid is in the final, we are not.
11:49 And the reality is that.
11:51 We have the chance, we're going to try to pick it up.
11:54 Two more guys, Jack and then Paul, please.
11:56 Hi, Pep.
11:57 There's been quite a lot said about the state of the title race
12:00 in the last few weeks, loads and loads of people saying
12:03 it's inevitable that City are going to win the league
12:06 after the Villa result at Arsenal.
12:08 When you see things like that, what sort of emotions does that stir up?
12:11 Is that pride in that people think you're that good,
12:15 or do you feel it's a bit ignorant?
12:18 I always listen, because I control all of you,
12:24 and I know you will say you're right.
12:28 Yes, it surprised me a lot when I said City are not going to lose.
12:32 No, it's impossible, we're going to drop points.
12:35 I don't have any argument to say why.
12:40 Of course we can drop points and lose games.
12:44 Always what happens is because we win it,
12:47 it's because we put a lot of effort behind.
12:49 Because the people say they're not going to lose points
12:51 because we didn't have in the past,
12:53 but that doesn't mean it's going to happen today.
12:55 Otherwise all teams still were winning, and just winning one.
13:00 OK, it's nice, but I don't pay attention one second because it's not true.
13:06 We have to do it again and again.
13:08 The important thing is still, we would like to prove they are right,
13:12 but we have to do it.
13:14 It just seems quite a strange narrative that's creeping in at the moment,
13:19 in that people are calling the league boring
13:22 because you've won it so many times,
13:25 but recent title races have gone down to the last day.
13:30 You've obviously had the battles with Liverpool.
13:32 It's not boring, it's nice.
13:34 It's in football a bit.
13:36 I saw Liverpool in the last weeks, they could not fight with Arsenal.
13:42 Do you know the way they lose the chance to not fight until the end?
13:46 I saw the game against Crystal Palace,
13:49 the game against United,
13:51 the games against...
13:53 The chances they miss look unbelievable.
13:56 You cannot believe it.
13:57 I saw, I asked, "Give me all the chances from Liverpool they miss."
14:00 But miss it without Kepa.
14:02 Kepa.
14:03 Nothing.
14:04 And they miss it.
14:06 And for that reason they are not fighting until the end.
14:09 They are losers? No.
14:11 They are failers? No.
14:13 They are an incredible, the same team,
14:15 like fight against us these many, many years,
14:18 like happened last season.
14:19 Because at the end it's...
14:21 Tell me how these incredible attacking players Liverpool has,
14:25 they don't score a goal.
14:26 And for that reason they didn't win.
14:28 It can happen.
14:29 As important as Liverpool,
14:31 they are winners.
14:32 Because at the end they fought for four titles,
14:34 being there and playing against Atalanta.
14:37 Did you see yesterday Atalanta-Roma?
14:40 The performance they have done is unbelievable, Atalanta.
14:44 They can beat you.
14:45 I remember years ago when I said, "Ah, Borussia Dortmund."
14:49 Easy for Man City, Borussia Dortmund.
14:51 Look, I would love to be in the Borussia Dortmund position right now
14:55 and go to Wembley in a few weeks to play the final.
14:58 So the business is boring, it's not.
15:00 It's so difficult.
15:01 But before, do you know what?
15:02 It was the money.
15:04 If for the reason why,
15:07 Man United should have won all the titles.
15:10 All of them.
15:11 And the second?
15:12 Chelsea.
15:13 All the titles.
15:14 And third?
15:16 Arsenal.
15:17 All the titles.
15:18 They spent much money in the last five, six years than us.
15:21 They should be there, they are not there.
15:23 That's the reason Girona should not be in the Champions League in Spain.
15:26 He is in the Champions League.
15:27 Or Leicester should not have won the Premier League years ago.
15:30 Because for them, you know?
15:32 Now it's boring, it's not boring.
15:35 It's so difficult to be here again and again.
15:37 But now we want to take it.
15:39 That's one of my poll guys.
15:41 Pep, you said a few moments ago that you're very calm,
15:44 you're very relaxed at this stage of the season.
15:46 Do you get the sense that your players are in the same kind of mindset?
15:49 Because they've had so much pressure on them before.
15:52 They're so focused.
15:54 They are so, so concentrated to know what we have in front of us.
16:00 That's what I felt.
16:02 The last game since we were in the mix of the…
16:07 In most of the games we survived.
16:10 Chelsea FA Cup semi-final, we survived.
16:12 Not in Gamford, we survived.
16:14 But we have something like playing not really bad.
16:18 Maybe yesterday, Arsenal was not the best performance,
16:20 but they were there.
16:22 That defined the big teams.
16:24 Give me one week, we can fool them.
16:27 We compete better.
16:28 I have one week, three days off, two days off, they can rest.
16:31 But we have two days, I have to prepare the sports way.
16:36 You know that?
16:37 And know when that…
16:38 I cannot train, I cannot do it.
16:40 We are used to, yeah.
16:41 But that is defined the big teams.
16:44 And the difficulties against Chelsea was…
16:47 Just so for surviving.
16:49 I don't know how.
16:50 Because they were closer than us to reach the final.
16:54 They don't tell me why, we did it.
16:56 So, experience, personalities or whatever, I don't know.
17:00 So, and of course, the players are incredible.
17:05 The focus that we want.
17:07 We want yes or yes.
17:08 We want to do our best to arrive at the last game.
17:11 You know, depending on us.
17:13 This is what we want.
17:14 Thank you, guys.
17:16 Thank you.
17:17 [BLANK_AUDIO]