Pep Guardiola admits his Man City side have lost their fear factor - as the Catalan says Champions League qualification would be a 'success'
Pep Guardiola admits his Man City side have lost their fear factor - as the Catalan says Champions League qualification would be a 'success'
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Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City have lost the fear factor as they head into a daunting run of fixtures that could define their top four hopes. City’s next six games are against the rest of the current top six – plus Tottenham away next month – and Guardiola harbours concerns about their capability to handle the ‘big stages’ following Wednesday’s capitulation at Paris Saint-Germain.
![[His side are struggling in the Premier League, as they sit 5th and two points off the top four]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/21/94491363-14323127-image-m-130_1737753495775.jpg)
The Catalan, who faces former assistant Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium today, suggested that tactics employed by opposition coaches mean City’s air of invincibility no longer exists. ‘Before, a team never made man-marking against us,’ Guardiola said. ‘I remember everyone came here to the Etihad and stayed back.
![[City must beat Club Brugge next week if they wish to make the Champions League Round of 16]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/21/94491317-14323127-image-m-131_1737753509799.jpg)
‘The first team I saw man-marking was Neil Warnock at Cardiff. And after, (Gian Piero) Gasperini with Atalanta. Now everyone does it. Everyone comes here, it doesn’t matter, man to man. They just jump to Ederson or Stefan (Ortega). ‘You have to adapt, do it better, otherwise you are not qualifying for the Champions League.’.
Pep Guardiola admitted his Man City side have lost their fear factor in their opponents' eyes. His side are struggling in the Premier League, as they sit 5th and two points off the top four. City must beat Club Brugge next week if they wish to make the Champions League Round of 16.
