Pep reacts to Man City losing the FA Cup Final
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reacts to Man City losing the FA Cup Final to Manchester United
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
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00:00Evening guys, we do have a mic in the room so if you can signal it like to ask a question
00:21we'll come to as many as we can. We'll take two or three at the end, embargoed for 10.30
00:25on Sunday evening.
00:40First of all, congratulations to Man United for winning the FA Cup. I think my game plan
00:49in the first half was not good. The second half was much, much better. We were more intense
00:58in part because we were 2-0 down and when that happens you don't have anything to lose
01:02and you make a step forward. It was a tight game, we gave away the first goal and after
01:06they made a good transition for the second one we didn't close well. But credit to United
01:12for the second goal, the quality they have. And after we tried, we had the clearest chance
01:18in the second half. It's not easy because they defend so man-marking and they follow
01:22really well the pockets and the transitions were there. But we cut the chances and unfortunately
01:29we scored a goal a little bit late with the chances we had before. Maybe the game will
01:33be a bit different but the team was there. Like all the time when we lose, we are there
01:38and yeah, disappointed today. Like it's normal, teams that lose the finals but the season
01:46has been extraordinary, fighting for all the trophies in a good way and rest and come
01:54back next season.
01:55Pep, you, after the final whistle, went to each and every one of your players. Why was
02:01that important? What was the message you gave to them after a great season?
02:04Come on. We talk and hug each other and now we are sad and celebrate tomorrow what an
02:12incredible achievement we have done and come back. So it's as simple as that. In football,
02:18in life, you win, lose. It's the way we lose, it's what we have to do, especially in the
02:23second half. They even give up and go and go.
02:25Pep, you also went up to Eric afterwards. Given the season he's had, the pressure he's
02:31been under going into this game, is there a part of you that even in defeat can be happy
02:35for him given the difficulties he's gone through or is it just purely win, win, win?
02:40They have to take a decision. I don't know, but of course he's a lovely person, an extraordinary
02:47manager. So, of course, winning the FA Cup is important for them, like it was last season
02:53for us.
02:54Pep, it's your title parade tomorrow. Does this result just take a little bit of the
02:58shine off it?
02:59Now the feeling, of course, when you lose a final you are disappointed, but we celebrate
03:07very good this week and all the journey in the Premier League. When you make 91 points
03:13it's because we won a lot of points and the journey was really, really good. But, as I
03:19said, you have to be so proud and celebrate what we have done.
03:23Pep, with the performance in the first half, did you feel that the players seemed to look
03:30a little bit sluggish?
03:31No, no. For my decision, we were not in the right position to attack them. It's my mistake.
03:36I didn't. The game plan was not good.
03:38So, do you not think the celebrations after the title win and...
03:44Completely the opposite. They were focused and how we were reacting in the second half
03:49was really good.
03:50Just up to Sam before the embargo, please.
03:53Hi, Pep. You've mentioned a couple of times it was your mistake in terms of the plan,
04:01but what did you have in your head? What were you thinking before the game?
04:04The players know it. The reason why. Tactically, it was not good. I had the feeling it was
04:11not good today.
04:12But what were you looking for? You must have had an idea going into it, thinking, well,
04:16this is what we want to do.
04:17No, you plan a game for different positions, but after that it didn't work. It's as simple
04:21as that. Even with that, we arrived two or three times in the final third, in the by-line,
04:28the crosses for nothing. We did it. They make one shoot, the goal away and the goal for
04:35Maino and no more than that.
04:38As always when we play against United, we have more or less the control and normally
04:43we create the second half. We were not able to do it.
04:48Ian at the front, please.