Pep Guardiola not in a hurry to talk up summer Man City transfer plans

The Cityzens were the first team in the history of English football to be crowned champions four seasons in a row.

Mon, 27 May, 2024 - 06:16

Chris Hatherall

Pep Guardiola has no concerns about Manchester City’s ability to bounce back from FA Cup Final defeat next season and played down reports that the club will have to spend big in the transfer window this summer to stay ahead of Arsenal.

City paraded the Premier League trophy in Manchester yesterday less than 24 hours after losing at Wembley; and that was a reminder of how strong his team have been in 2023-24 despite the way it ended at Wembley on Saturday.

The Cityzens were the first team in the history of English football to be crowned champions four seasons in a row, so perhaps the FA Cup Final was one game to many, It certainly looked that way when you consider the way City’s champions were rattled and panicked by Manchester United’s energetic pressing and physical approach, constantly forcing their opponents into sloppy mistakes.

But Guardiola won’t be rushing into the market to put things right, despite hinting the opposite in his end-of-season press conferences.

He said: “We have just won the Premier League. So, we have to be calm and relax and we will be back as best as possible, “Next season is a long way away, so step by step we’ll see what happens and see the squad that we have and start to work.

“Mentality-wise this season has been really good and the journey has been good. We arrive every week in a good mood, with good vibes and the team has been extraordinary. The way we played in the Champions League, too.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the market because I don’t know what the players who have to decide if they stay with us or leave will do, or what positions. Some players can come in and some can go out.

“But right now I’m really pleased with the team and how they behaved all season. I couldn’t say anything different.

“Being in the FA Cup Final is nice, too. Ok, we lose it. But after what we’ve done in the Premier League and in the Champions League as well, I haven’t seen anything wrong.”

Guardiola also dismissed suggestions that he forced his players to watch United lift the FA Cup on Saturday, to motivate them for next season.

City’s players gallantly stayed on the pitch following their 2-1 defeat to their bitter rivals to watch the trophy presentation, a sporting gesture that replicated the actions of Manchester United players when they lost against their noisy neighbours Iin the 2023 final.

But Guardiola wasn’t happy when journalists asked if watching the trophy lift would double his team’s determination to win big again next year – or at anyone implying that he may have forced his players to do it.

He said: “We have always done it. I have lost some finals but you have to always stay and pay respects to the opponent. It has to be that. It’s not for our motivation. They won, they deserved it, congratulations. What else can you say? This is what it is.

“It’s not going to change something next season or mean we are more motivated because United won the cup. It has to be inside ourselves, to improve and be better.”