Guardiola’s Mixed Emotions After Goalless Draw Against Sunderland

Pep Guardiola responded positively when asked by Sky Sports to assess the goalless draw, stating simply, “Good.” Manchester City, who had recently secured a 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest due to a late goal from Rayan Cherki, found it challenging to generate significant chances during the first half at the Stadium of Light, with the exception of an early disallowed goal by Bernardo Silva.

The team showed improvement after halftime, with Savinho missing two opportunities in quick succession before being substituted due to injury. Phil Foden nearly scored when his shot was cleared off the line as City intensified the pressure. Tijjani Reijnders also squandered a chance within the box in the dying moments of the match.

Despite lamenting the team’s inability to convert their chances, Guardiola maintained a positive outlook on their overall performance. He commented, “Good. Take the point. The second half was excellent. We could not score in the six-yard box. How many times were we in the six-yard box against the keeper or the other one and could not convert? Of course, the threat they have, they are really good. I am really pleased with the performances, especially in the second half.

“We created a lot against that team in this stadium, especially in the second half. The first half was challenging as we struggled against their pressing, but Rodri provided the crucial second pass to break the lines, allowing us to run. The second half was significantly better. They are very physical and strong, so this is not a surprise. We take the point. There’s a long way to go until the end of the season. The result is what it is.”

City’s captain, Bernardo Silva, expressed a more somber reflection than his coach, indicating disappointment over the missed opportunity for victory. He remarked, “Two different halves. In the first half, we didn’t play well. We didn’t manage the counters as effectively as we should have. We attacked a bit too quickly and failed to create spaces. In the second half, we had many more chances, but today was one of those days when we couldn’t finish them. We’re not happy because we expected better.”

With less than 72 hours to prepare for their next match against Chelsea, City faces a tight turnaround. This game was anticipated to be a reunion between Guardiola and his former assistant, Enzo Maresca, but the latter was dismissed by Chelsea on Thursday following discontent with his discussions about potentially succeeding Guardiola after the season.

City may have to contend without Gonzalez, who left the pitch at halftime after receiving treatment earlier in the match. Savinho’s injury also raised concerns, as Guardiola admitted that the Brazilian’s condition “does not look good.”

The coach acknowledged the players’ disappointment regarding the result but urged them to maintain a positive mindset as they prepare for Chelsea. He concluded, “We didn’t execute what we talked about in the first half, but overall, it was a really good game. The second half was better; the players did everything. They are a bit down, but we need to lift our heads, as we have a challenging match against Chelsea in three days. We created enough chances and played well in the second half. The commitment and desire were evident, although we unfortunately could not capitalize on our opportunities, including the two chances from Savinho and efforts from Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, Phil Foden, and Erling Haaland.”