Pep Guardiola expressed optimism about Manchester City’s future despite their 2-0 loss to Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
While the defeat bolstered Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes, Guardiola took solace in the performance of his youthful squad.
Young Squad Shows Promise Despite Setback
In a bold move, Guardiola benched seasoned players like Rúben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gündogan, and Bernardo Silva, opting instead for a starting lineup with an average age of just 24.7 years.
The lineup featured three 20-year-olds—Rico Lewis, Savinho, and Abdukodir Khusanov—highlighting the manager’s focus on nurturing young talent.
“I saw a bright future,” Guardiola told the BBC.
“Other than Kevin [De Bruyne] and Nathan [Ake], they are the future of this club in the next years, with others who will come in future windows.”
Guardiola Praises City’s Performance
Despite the result, Guardiola was pleased with his team’s display. “It was a good game.
Tight game in the first half. First half it was more open and in the second half they defended very deep.
They always have the threat but it is not easy to control it. Big compliment to them but I am very pleased with the way we play,” he added.
Read Also: Transfer Gossip Today: Manchester United eye £35m Move For Sporting CP Teenager Geovany Quenda
•✓ Pep Guardiola Optimistic About Erling Haaland’s Fitness for Champions League Clash Against Real Madrid
City’s Title Challenge in Jeopardy
The defeat leaves Manchester City 20 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table, underlining the challenge Guardiola’s side faces in closing the gap next season.
When asked about the difference between the two teams, Guardiola told ESPN:
“You can see it in the table, they’ve picked up a lot of points, we’ve lost a lot when we couldn’t have. As for today, I have few things to say, we got to the touchline a lot, the winger was brilliant, but we lacked the quality to be able to resolve [the moves].”
Erling Haaland’s Absence Felt
City were once again without star striker Erling Haaland, who continues to recover from a knee injury sustained during the 4-0 win over Newcastle.
Haaland was also benched during the Champions League clash against Real Madrid and missed the Liverpool match entirely.
Looking ahead to City’s upcoming match against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, Guardiola remained uncertain about Haaland’s return.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I am not saying we didn’t get the result because Erling was not there. That is unfair on the other players. We could finish more but in general it is fine.”
While the defeat was a setback, Guardiola’s focus on youth development and his optimism about the club’s future could lay the groundwork for a strong comeback next season. With City’s eyes set on future transfer windows and the potential return of key players, the reigning champions are far from out of the Premier League race.
This fresh approach, coupled with Guardiola’s strategic vision, may prove pivotal as Manchester City aims to reclaim the top spot in English football.
