In the Premier League, Manchester City has lost some directions, thinks Pep Guardiola, he acknowledges a situation.
After their Premier League title defense officially ended, Manchester City was expected to be more concentrated in their search for the glory of the FA Cup and the Champions League, admitted Pep Guardiola.
On Thursday, Liverpool crowned champions with City’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea but they were in good form during a 2-0 victory in the quarter-final of the Sunday’s FA Cup at Newcastle United.
Before Raheem Sterling put the finishing touch on a routine victory after the break to book a last-four Arsenal showdown, Kevin De Bruyne celebrated his 29th birthday by scoring a penalty for the first half.
It remains possible for City to end this term with an EFL Cup, FA Cup, and Champions League triple, with Guardiola stating that it is understandable that the attentions of his players are now heading to Wembley as well as the last-16 second leg against Real Madrid in Europe’s elite competition – a game in which they lead 2-1.
“After the defeat in London against Chelsea, of course now in the Premier League we’re struggling a little bit to focus,” Guardiola told the BBC.
“We’re playing for qualification to the Champions League, it’s not done but we’re close, we need two victories.”
“But, of course, now the FA Cup and Champions League it’s a little bit different for the fact we’re playing at Wembley again, we were winners last season, we are in the semis again and that’s so, so good. Then we prepare for the end of the season against Madrid.”
On the game, Guardiola added: “First we are in the semi-final, it was not easy to attack against defenders so, so deep.”
“It was a solid performance, we conceded few [chances]and we are happy to be going back to London to Wembley.”
This season after City has endured a series of spot-kick woes, De Bruyne has been the official penalty taker.
