Manchester City’s Resurgence: A Work in Progress
Manchester City secured their second consecutive victory, defeating West Ham 4-1 to close out 2024 and usher in teh new year. While the win offers a glimmer of hope, manager Pep Guardiola insists his team is far from regaining their dominant form.
Despite the remarkable scoreline, Guardiola emphasized that the performance didn’t reflect the team’s true potential. He acknowledged the importance of the victory, particularly after a challenging period of inconsistent results, but stressed the need for continued improvement.
“We are happier because we won,but we didn’t play like we did in recent seasons,” Guardiola stated.”This result will help us, but we are not at our level yet.”
The manager highlighted the team’s struggles with maintaining possession and controlling the tempo of the game. He pointed to a lack of patience and a tendency to rush attacks, leaving them vulnerable to counter-attacks.
“We have to come out from behind, lock down the opponent and make those precise passes,” Guardiola explained. “We are not doing it as effectively as we used to.We lose the ball easily, and then the opposition exploits those opportunities.”
Savinho’s extraordinary performance was a bright spot in the match.The young winger’s energy and creativity were instrumental in City’s attack.
“He is one of the few who is fresh, and he had these sparks,” Guardiola praised. “His work ethic is incredible, but we still lack calm. We speed everything up.”
Guardiola also acknowledged the team’s recent struggles, noting that a month and a half of inconsistent performances is unusual for a team that has consistently been at the top of their game for the past eight years.
“It has been a month and a half of poor performance, a month and a half in eight years is not bad at all,” he conceded.
While the victory against West Ham provides a much-needed boost, Guardiola remains focused on the bigger picture. He understands that regaining their former dominance will require a collective effort and a return to the principles that have defined their success.
The challenge for Manchester City now is to translate these victories into a sustained period of strong performances and climb back into the European spots.
Can City Recapture Their Magic? A Discussion with Former captain Vincent Kompany
Manchester City closed out 2024 with a convincing 4-1 victory over West Ham, sparking discussions about a potential resurgence. However, Pep Guardiola himself insists the team is still far from its dominant best, citing inconsistent performances and a lack of precision in their play. Today, we are joined by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, now manager of Burnley, to dissect Guardiola’s comments and discuss the future of his former team.
Welcome, Vincent. thanks for joining us.
Vincent Kompany: It’s a pleasure to be here.
Let’s dive straight into it. Pep Guardiola acknowledges the win is a positive step but expresses concern about City’s inconsistency and lack of their usual control. Do you share his concerns?
Kompany: I absolutely understand where Pep is coming from. This Manchester City side has achieved incredible things over the past few years,setting an incredibly high standard for themselves. When you fall short of that standard,even by a small margin,it feels significant. City may be winning games, but the dominance they once displayed, that suffocating control over opponents, hasn’t always been there this season.
You yourself have spoken about the importance of possession and controlling the tempo in your own managerial career. Do you think City has lost sight of those principles?
Kompany: It’s not about losing sight of them, more about execution.Sometimes teams go through phases where the fluidity and precision just aren’t there, where the passes don’t quite connect as smoothly. I think City is still capable of those moments of brilliance, but they need to rediscover that consistency.
Guardiola highlighted Savinho’s performance as a bright spot, praising his energy and creativity. How important are these types of individual sparks for a team going through a rough patch?
Kompany: Extremely important. When a team isn’t quite clicking as a whole, individual brilliance can lift spirits and provide that much-needed momentum. Young players like Savinho can inject fresh energy and remind everyone of the quality within the squad.
Pep also acknowledged the unusualness of City’s recent struggles, describing a “month and a half of poor performance” as an anomaly in their recent history. Do you think this is simply a blip, or are there deeper issues at play?
Kompany: It’s certainly unusual for City to go through such a dip, but I think it’s critically important to remember that even the greatest teams experience fluctuations in form. Every season throws up its own unique challenges. It might very well be a combination of factors – fatigue, injuries, the inevitable changes within a squad over time – but I don’t believe it’s anything catastrophic.
Looking ahead, what do you think City needs to do to regain its dominant form?
Kompany: It will take time and focus. Guardiola needs to identify the areas where the team is falling short and work on refining those aspects. It’s not about a complete overhaul, but about getting back to the basics, reinforcing those principles that have brought them so much success in the past. City has the talent and the manager to turn things around; it’s a matter of regaining that collective belief and syncing back into that rhythm they’re known for.
What are your thoughts on this discussion, readers? Do you agree with Vincent’s assessment of Manchester City’s current situation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
