Passionate Guardiola Continues To Solve Man City Puzzle

Sometimes location is nary request to opportunity anything.

When you are arsenic expressive connected nan touchline arsenic Pep Guardiola, ocular grounds tin beryllium capable to gauge nan value of an occasion.

In Tuesday's 2-1 triumph complete Aston Villa, location was a agelong play of simmering discontent, past thinly disguised fury astatine nan punishment fixed against his squad aft referee Craig Pawson had been told to extremity nan crippled to cheque Ruben Dias' 'foul' connected Jacob Ramsey.

Most thought video adjunct referee (VAR) John Brooks was right. Guardiola was not among them. He shook his head, ranted astatine his coaches connected nan bench, past launched a tirade towards nan adjacent 4th official.

Guardiola was booked for his emotive guidance but he felt wronged. He was still shaking his caput forcefully, his look group for illustration stone, arsenic nan replay was shown connected nan large surface astatine nan nonstop infinitesimal he returned to his spot aft half-time.

Then location was a request for much noise, gesturing to each parts of nan crushed for City's fans to move up nan volume, and a acquainted descend to nan knees arsenic James McAtee's delicate lob dropped conscionable nan incorrect broadside of nan post.

Finally location was nan hostility merchandise of Matheus Nunes' injury-time winner. Guardiola reacted arsenic though he had scored himself, acknowledging nan sound from nan fans he wanted much from earlier.

There was a storming of nan transportation arsenic nan whistle blew, a hug - tight - for Nunes, a laughter and a joke pinch Kevin de Bruyne, who astatine nan play revealed his head had not moreover made an connection for him to enactment at nan extremity of nan season.

Make nary mistake, this triumph was big.

"You don't person to beryllium a intelligence to realise that we were playing against Aston Villa, 1 of nan champion teams, arsenic you saw against Newcastle and PSG," said Guardiola.

"They are an bonzer squad but we performed arsenic we did successful nan past pinch nan commitment.

"Qualification for nan Champions League is important, of course, but sometimes we person to beryllium calm. We must attraction connected nan semi-final and aft we person days to hole for nan 4 'finals'. Two astatine home, 2 away."

By that, Guardiola intends Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, and past backmost to nan Premier League for cardinal games against Wolves and relegated Southampton earlier nan last 2 - Bournemouth astatine home, Fulham distant - interspersed, he hopes, pinch different travel to Wembley.

In Guardiola's mind, it is each truthful clear.

It is why detached observers are led to nan conclusion City's shot is regimented.

Yet, nan reality is Guardiola is making subtle tweaks arsenic nan play goes on.

He accepts what he has now is not what moreover he expected erstwhile nan run began, erstwhile Rodri and Erling Haaland were available, not connected nan chair arsenic they were again against Villa owed to injury.

No-one would person predicted Saturday's leader astatine Everton would beryllium 20-year-old Nico O'Reilly, making his 4th convention start. Against Villa it would beryllium Nunes, signed from Wolves for £53m successful September 2023 erstwhile a scheme to bring successful Lucas Paqueta from West Ham had to beryllium aborted, who turned into a right-back alternatively than his cardinal midfield scheming role.

"If you told maine astatine nan opening of nan play that astatine nan extremity of it we would beryllium fighting for nan FA Cup last aliases to suffice for nan Champions League pinch Nico and Matheus astatine full-back, I'd say: 'What are you talking about?'" said Guardiola.

"Matheus is simply a personification that is incredibly loved. When you talk pinch nan journalists he's ever truthful superior but successful nan locker room he's ever laughing.

"He has physicality for erstwhile he has to tally and prolong nan wingers. Step by measurement he has been truthful important."

It's different puzzle solved for Guardiola. Another solution found.

It will beryllium fascinating now to spot if City tin support live their hopes of home silverware alive.

They person grounded to triumph astatine slightest 1 trophy only 3 times since they won nan FA Cup successful 2011 to extremity their agelong hold for success.

Since Guardiola's first play successful 2016-17, City person ever won astatine slightest 1 of nan 3 home competitions connected offer.

In theory, nan supporters person ne'er had it truthful good.

But galore are not happy. Protests against summons prices took spot again earlier kick-off.

Those moving nan nine reason nan finance generated allows Guardiola to person nan squad he demands. The fans do not work together - and Guardiola agrees pinch them.

"I americium connected nan broadside of nan people," he said. "I'm a protagonist for Manchester City arsenic well.

"I don't person to salary [for] nan tickets but I understand nan feeling.

"When I spell to nan theatre aliases to a performance and I salary for nan ticket, I want to spot thing I like.

"We want them present and we want a afloat stadium each time."