Pep opens up to Henry

Man City manager Pep Guardiola did not hold back as he gave a forthright interview with Sky Sports’ Thierry Henry ahead of Super Sunday, covering everything from his philosophy, to his respect for Tony Pulis.

Guardiola, who arrived in the Premier League in the summer following hugely successful stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, sees his City side seven points behind leaders Chelsea after 16 games.

Two defeats on the trot – at home to leaders Chelsea and away at champions Leicester – sparked criticism upon Guardiola’s tactics after a successful opening two months in the English top flight, before a 2-0 win over Watford in midweek.

They host Arsenal, live on Sky Sports 1 on Super Sunday at 4pm, and Guardiola’s frank chat with the striker he formerly managed at Barcelona revealed what the 45-year-old really thinks about criticism that has been directed at him in recent weeks.

Will he ever abandon the style that made him so successful at Barcelona and Bayern Munich? What does he really think of English football? And what happens if the message doesn’t get through to these City players?

Pep reveals all, and you can read every word here…

THIERRY: What is the hardest thing you’ve encountered since you’ve been here this year?

PEP: To adapt to the specific quality of this league. I try to play in one way all my career and here, for example with high pressing, when they have the ball we go to pick them up, it is not allowed, because it is not allowed. Many times the ball is more in the air than the grass, and I have to adapt. I was in Munich and spoke with Xabi Alonso, and he said: ‘You have to adapt, it’s the second ball, the second ball!’

But really, you have to adapt to the second ball, and the third ball, and the fourth! I never before was focused on that, because in Barcelona or in Spain, more or less the players try to play for the culture. That’s why they won World Cups, and they won the Euros, won the Champions Leagues, the Europa Leagues, all the time, all of the years, Spanish teams are in the latter stages, all of the teams.

In Germany it was more physical, but not like here. Here it is all the teams, except maybe Chelsea because Antonio is playing really well and having them build up, but the other teams are taller, stronger, physical, and you have to adapt and build from that.

THIERRY: That’s the thing. I played in both leagues, you will encounter different problems in different leagues. Sometimes people say it is easy to win the league in Spain, we know it isn’t. In Spain the problem is teams can outplay you. In here it is different, because you can play against teams who go ‘boom’, straight away to the striker, and if you want to put pressure on, it is hard.

I know you’ve encountered problems before, but this time you are not top of the league. At Barcelona you were most of the time at the top. And Bayern too, although it was difficult when you first arrived. You managed early to get to the top of the league, and improve even more after. For the first time you are not there, how difficult is it to deal with that.

PEP: What I am living now is what all of the managers in the world are living. It is a challenge. Now I live that situation, but it’s a normal situation for all the managers around the world, and I know at this club you have to build something.

But the most important thing is not that I am not top of the league right now, but I am focused more on understanding the league. Not just the long balls, but many circumstances. And I am focused on all my players, what they can do, and how we can play with all that quality.

THIERRY: People always talk about how entertaining your teams are, what you give to football and how you see the game, but I know how important it is for you not to concede, and people don’t give you a lot …

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