Guardiola criticised them after their comeback win against Spurs.
Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that they stand no chance of winning the Premier League if they continue to remain complacent.
City remain second in the table after they came from two goals down to beat Tottenham 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium and still have to play league leaders Arsenal twice, but Guardiola highlighted the difference in quality between the two sides.
COMEBACK COMPLETE!! ✅
MAN CITY NOW LEAD 3-2!! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/z3UgxsPZnR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2023
“I want to beat Arsenal but if we play like that, Arsenal will destroy us. I said last week I don’t care about the Premier League — I want to see my team,” he said.
Guardiola didn’t hold back in his assessment of both the players and fans after Thursday’s win after some of the supporters booed the team off at half time.
“Our fans have to push us, demand more, shout, ‘Come on guys, you know how good you are, show us again!’
“I want a reaction from all the club, not just the players, the whole organisation. We’re a ‘happy flowers’’organisation! I don’t want to be ‘happy flowers!’
Youngsters Rico Lewis and Julián Álvarez were both spared of criticism but as for the rest of the squad, Guardiola demanded some much-needed improvement, as well as calling on the fans to make the atmosphere at the Etihad better.
“We are far, far away from being able to compete at the highest level,” he said. “[We lacked] guts, passion, fire, desire to win from minute one. The same with the City fans, they are silent for 45 minutes. I want my fans back.
"They were silent for 45 minutes" 🤐
Pep Guardiola commented on the crowd reactions at the Etihad last night 🔊 pic.twitter.com/InrT7k3CRn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 20, 2023
“In 14 years, I won 11 league titles, that’s a lot so it means every day I see things you cannot see because you’re not there.
“I’m incredibly happy with the result, but it’s not about that. Do you think we are going to chase the gap to Arsenal the way we are playing? No way. We have an opponent in Arsenal who have the fire. Two decades without winning the Premier League.
“I am explaining the reality, everything is so comfortable but opponents don’t wait. I don’t recognise my team, they [previously] had the passion and desire to run.
“We are far away from the team we had in previous seasons. Do you think this comeback will happen every time? It won’t.”
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