Guardiola Lauds City’s Resilience and Kovacic’s Performance After Chelsea Win
Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, expressed his satisfaction and surprise following his team’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The victory marked a strong beginning for City's Premier League campaign and conquered a historical challenge as City had previously struggled at Chelsea's home ground.
In an interview with BBC Match of the Day, Guardiola reflected on the unexpected triumph. “I really didn’t expect it,” he admitted. “I know what these guys can do, but the first day and lack of training. Last season we could not win at Stamford Bridge so this is good news. The bad news is we still have 65, 70 games left. But it is good to start with a win for the confidence.”
Guardiola highlighted the limited preparation time his team had before the match. “We try to prepare the game, we had two or three days to prepare, but we solved this lack of many things with our commitment. Everyone was at their maximum and this was enough.” His comments underline the challenges faced by City, who managed to secure a result despite not being at their full strength.
A significant aspect of the match was City’s ability to win without their key midfielder Rodri, who was missing due to injury. Guardiola acknowledged the importance of Rodri but praised Mateo Kovacic for stepping up in his absence.
“Be careful with statistics with us because we break it. Rodri is massively important for us so it’s important to have Mateo [Kovacic] here because he is an experienced player and a great person. He made a good performance.”
Guardiola’s praise for Kovacic reflects the Croatian midfielder’s vital role in City’s midfield. Kovacic’s performance was instrumental in maintaining control and stability, compensating for Rodri’s absence and ensuring that City did not miss a beat.
The manager also took a moment to express his deep appreciation for his squad. “You cannot imagine how privileged and fortunate I am to live these experiences with this incredible group of players.
“They are all friends, their families are all with them most of the time. It’s unbelievable for me.” His words convey the close-knit nature of the team and the personal satisfaction he derives from working with such a dedicated and talented group.
The City boss Guardiola has now defeated 72 of the 75 Premier League managers he has encountered. The three managers he has not beaten are Aitor Karanka (D1), Steve Agnew (D1), and Ronald Koeman (D2 L1).
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