Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has admitted responsibility for his team’s underwhelming season, describing his own performance as “really poor.”
City, who have dominated English football in recent years, sit fifth in the Premier League, trailing leaders Liverpool by 22 points with nine games left.
Despite his past success, Guardiola acknowledged he has not handled this season’s challenges well enough.
“My duty was to overcome the situation much better than I have done,” the City boss said. “Hopefully, this will not happen next season.”
Even if City secure a Champions League qualification and win the FA Cup, Guardiola insists their season has fallen below their usual standards.
City face Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, aiming to reach the competition’s last four for the seventh consecutive season.
However, Guardiola remains critical of his team’s performances, saying their level “has not been good.”
Meanwhile, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola believes lifting the FA Cup would mean far more than securing European qualification. The Cherries, who host City at the Vitality Stadium, are seeking their first major trophy.
“For me, the FA Cup is much more important than playing in Europe. It’s a title,” Iraola said. “We are three games away from winning it, and if we have a good day, we can beat anyone.”
Bournemouth face a daunting challenge against a City side that has won the FA Cup seven times, but Iraola is optimistic about their chances.
“We know we are not favorites, but we believe we have an opportunity,” he added.
With City looking for redemption and Bournemouth dreaming of a historic cup run, Sunday’s clash promises to be a thrilling encounter.
