Manchester City: Have Faith – Pep Will Sort It
By David Crook
Motivation and Desire
Some of the red based media have unbelievably started to question the desire and motivation of our players. Again this narrative is about belittling the achievements we have had and suggesting that somehow we have become “full” on what we have done so far and therefore are less focused.
Having watched every game in some considerable detail, I can safely say I have never seen any actual evidence of this. Our players seem as keen to win as ever and no one would appear to have a focus elsewhere.
Guardiola motivates his players through intensity and is not afraid to critique their individual displays. He is a man for the detail and ponders upon every aspect. Preparing elite athletes and keeping them at the peak of their motivation is a key skill for a manager at the higher levels of the game.
I am confident that should there be any drop in desire or motivation then City would be seeking to move a player on.
City have picked up 7 trophies in 2 seasons and that is an unprecedented level of achievement – the only token missing is the knock out Champions League trophy. The players have driven us to this level and want to win more.
I cannot recall any pundit ever suggesting that the Manchester United team of the 1990’s lacked motivation or desire simply because they had lost a game!
But every team must keep the players circulating – the desire and hunger is maintained through change and competition. This renewal of sides is what keeps a team like City at the top level for 10 years. Right now we are probably on our third great side in the last decade and are already beginning to transition to the fourth!
To summarise, Pep will manage the motivation and desire and of that I have no doubts that City will appear in the next game back to the familiar levels of intensity.
No De Bruyne : No Idea
Kevin De Bruyne is without doubt one of the best players in world football. He has abilities which are unmatched by other players – his quality of passing and vision are world class. Single handedly he has the skill to open up a defence and turn a game on its head.
He is difficult to mark out of a game because he has the guile and capacity to pop up almost anywhere on the pitch – most recently seen patrolling at right back, almost behind Kyle Walker. From that position he can spray passes into attack and cause chaos.
Whenever I think of our very best performances they tend to coincide with him being on top form. Sadly we have been without De Bruyne for so much of the last 12 months, as a succession of injuries put paid to the consistency from which he best hits his highest rhythm.
Last season this meant we had to find a different way to win and we did. But this year we have a fully functioning De Bruyne and looked to be unbeatable. But first he was rested for the Norwich game where we surprisingly lost. Secondly he was ruled out of the Wolves game through a minor groin problem.
In those two games we struggled without De Bruyne to find a way to unlock resolute and well organised sides. For De Bruyne is that special kind of stardust you can sprinkle on the most stubborn teams.
Yet, whilst acknowleding the huge improvements De Bruyne brings to us, to decry our losses as down to the lack of him seems too reductive. We have found different ways to win. We just need to do it again.