IQ - Soccer Wiretap

Pep Guardiola Sticking By Methods Amid City's Slump

Dec 13, 2016 11:57 AM

Pep Guardiola is sticking by his methods amid Manchester City's 4-2 loss at Leicester City. City has won just four of their past 15 matches in all competitions after Guardiola won all 10 of his first 10 matches.

"Long-term projects don't exist in football," Guardiola said. "You have to win immediately. If you don't win, you will be in trouble. Coaches have to win, or something is going to happen. The boss and the chairman are going to decide, but no way [do I have time]."

Guardiola conceded that one recent Premier League match crystalized the English game for him.

"I understood English football the day I saw one game -- I was at home -- Swansea vs. Crystal Palace," he said. "Nine goals, eight from set-pieces. You have to control that, and we are unable right now to control that. Eight goals from set-pieces -- corners, free-kicks, throw-ins. That is English football and I have to adapt because never before I have lived that.

"Of course there are corners, of course there are many things, but not in that kind of influence on the game and where the teams are really good at making them.

"All the strikers, for example, and at Watford they are good at this kind of thing. I'm not saying they are not good with the ball in the short space, but they are strong from set-pieces and they used that.

"I am new here, but old coaches a long time ago here also had problems with that. It is not only Pep. It is other ones as well. But of course, it is only six months living here, so I have to improve on that and our team has to learn on that.

"Of course I have to adapt, but does that mean changing the way you believe in football? What am I going to do? Put in four further defenders? Change our strikers, who are Kelechi [Iheanacho] and [Sergio] Aguero and soon [Gabriel] Jesus?

"It's not going too well, but long-term projects don't exist in football. When it doesn't happen, another guy has to be in charge. I thought it would be shorter to adapt here, maybe it will be longer, but I'm pretty sure it will happen."

Mark Ogden/ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, IQ

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Arsenal Vs. Bayern Headline Round Of 16 UCL Ties

Dec 13, 2016 10:28 AM

Arsenal won their group in the Champions League but still drew Bayern Munich, who finished behind Atletico Madrid in group play.

Aresene Wenger's side has not advanced beyond the last 16 since 09-10. Arsenal has lost two times apiece to Bayern and Barcelona while also losing to AC Milan in 2012 and Monaco in 2015.

Bayern Munich v Arsenal

Manchester City v Monaco

Sevilla v Leicester City

Real Madrid v Napoli

Benfica v Borussia Dortmund

Porto v Juventus

Bayer Leverkusn v Atletico Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona

The Guardian

Tags: Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Leicester City, Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester City, Monaco, Napoli, Porto, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Sevilla, IQ

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Chelsea To Stick With 3-4-3 Against City

Dec 2, 2016 11:24 AM

Chelsea will stick with their 3-4-3 formation in Saturday's match against Manchester City.

Antonio Conte switched to the 3-4-3 following their defeats in September to Liverpool and Arsenal. Chelsea has since won seven straight matches.

"(Saturday) is a really tough game," Conte said. "It's is a great test for us, for our formation, to continue this way. We know that it won't be easy because, tomorrow, we face a really great team, really great players, with a good idea of football.

"But also tomorrow we want to show we are working very well and are growing. I think it is another step to show us if something has changed compared to the start of the season."

Liam Twomey/ESPN

Tags: Chelsea, IQ

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