Pep Guardiola has not been able to edit his usual magic in Manchester City this season, and an Arsenal Great believes that he knows why “something is broken” at Etihad
Former Arsenal -midfielder Emmanuel Petit has suggested that the separation of Pep Guardiola could be responsible for the fall of Manchester City in shape. The Gunners icon went so far to say that “something is broken” with the legendary tactician after a test period in the history of the club.
City is currently fifth in the Premier League on the way to their match against Leicester City on Wednesday evening. They are closely followed by Newcastle in Sixth and Brighton in the seventh, each of which is only one point behind.
Reports arose in February that Guardiola and his wife, Cristina Serra, had started a divorce procedures, although the coach traveled to Barcelona in March in an attempt to save his marriage. However, it is the belief of Petit that the off-field drama is at least partly the fault of the downfall of the city.
“Something has been broken with him,” he told Poker firm. “I don't want to talk about his private matters, but I think what happened outside the field, maybe had a big impact on him. Maybe the players saw that … To be honest with Pep Guardiola, I think he has private matters that not only had an influence as a manager, but also a person.”
Petit, who won the Premier League and FA Cup during his Stint at Arsenal, also referred to the 115 charges of the city for alleged financial misconduct as a factor in their slide of greatness. And that pressure in combination with the hardships he confronted with his personal life could have played a very good hand in standards that deteriorate on the field.
“We don't know what is actually going on with Manchester City, what the punishment will be with the club if they are found guilty of the charges,” he went on. “So there is actually a question, perhaps the hardships will force him to come back stronger. But again, as a person, I think he has experienced difficult times.”
The upcoming semi -final of City against Nottingham Forest is now the only chance of the club to end this season with silverware in tow rope. The English giants fell from the Champions League in the play-offs of the knockout stage, while their Carabao Cup exit came to Tottenham's hands like a big shock.
For every mistakes of the coach, Petit also believes that Guardiola has been abandoned by a team that seems tired and possibly complacent after unbridled success in the past seasons. That said, the World Cup winner also thinks that the manager had difficulty finding solutions from the sidelines, because he once did this professionally.
“I think the fact that they didn't buy new players last summer had an impact on the players,” Petit added. “I think that many players looked mentally and physically tired this season and starting with Pep Guardiola on the couch. He showed it so often. He lost his patience.
“He showed so often that he did not master his emotion on the field and outside the field. This season he had so many arguments with his players at the end of the matches. Against the goalkeeper with the goalkeeper, the way he also scratched on his head, you saw that something was wrong with the team.
“” The way in which he was sometimes no idea on the couch. He was unable to find the right solution. This was something that was new to look at, because I always saw that he always had ideas to find solutions, answers to his team problems. And this season I think he couldn't do that. “
That main episode against Feyenoord came at a time when a record line of bad shape was going through and only collected one victory in 13 games. And the more regular impressions of emotion (and not a good one) is perhaps the best indicator that something has indeed changed in Guardiola.
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