Pep Guardiola: “I am the only one who tells players the truth”

Pep Guardiola has delivered “home truths” to his Manchester City squad this week during private meetings, and told his players they must look themselves in the mirror and meet their high standards.

The boss was unhappy with the performance in the defeat to Southampton at St Mary’s, describing it after the game as a ‘bad night’ and adding that the best team won.

But Guardiola expects a response for the Manchester derby, saying the players have set high standards during his time at the Club.

“Absolutely I’m confident, I would never doubt [them],” he said, when asked whether he was expecting a reaction following the Saints defeat.

‘I’m the only person to tell them the truth. I did it this week. Sometimes not saying anything, they see my face, they know exactly the situation. Maybe they are not used to it because they are surrounded by people telling them how good they are. ‘I am the only person in their lives who can tell them exactly what the situation is”

“Even if this season would not be a success, I would never doubt the players. The fact that I tell them the truth doesn’t mean I don’t rely on them. After seeing what happened with the 4-0 against Chelsea in the FA Cup and then three days later losing to Southampton 2-0, unlucky because it could be a bigger margin, in both games I’ll tell them the truth.

“But if you think I’m going to doubt them? From one single result after being eliminated from the Carabao Cup, I will have doubts in these players? No way, that’s impossible, but I have to tell them the truth.”

While Arsenal are currently five points clear at the top of the table, there remains more than half of the season to play and Guardiola sees United, who are four further points behind, among the title candidates.

United have lost just once since they were beaten 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium in October when Phil Foden and Erling Haaland both scored hat-tricks.

“When I see the results and how United are playing, why not [be challengers for the title?]” Guardiola said.

“The way they are playing is good. It’s nice for us, our challenge is to improve again ourselves and see if we are able to do it.”

Guardiola expects United to be positive with Erik Ten Hag trying to get his team to impose their style rather than play on the counter-attack.

But the boss said that City will also go to Old Trafford trying to play the way that has been so successful.

“[United’s] players are able to contact with the players up front with good quality,” he added.

“I’m pretty sure with the momentum that they have at home, they won’t wait for an action to go on the counter-attack, they will be active and try to drop us down and play their own game.

“I think United brought Erik for that reason, to be an active team, so it doesn’t matter what the opponent does, they are going to do.

“But they know what they are going to find from ourselves – they know it.”