Manchester City Fan View: Difficult week highlights unique pressure on Pep Guardiola

Manchester City gave their manager Pep Guardiola reason to smile again at the end of what has been the Spaniard’s most difficult week since moving to England in July. His side eased past West Ham in the FA Cup third round on Friday, ending their visit to The London Stadium with a 5-0 win; the performance was as impressive as the result and the manager was glowing afterwards.

It was a welcome change to the image he put out last week. Despite victory over Burnley at weekend, the boss gave a smattering of sulky interviews that earned him a great deal of criticism that filled column inches and radio phone-in’s for days. He was in the wrong, but the reaction was over the top.

 

Pep Guardiola: What was all that about?

Pep Guardiola and Mike Dean disagree

You don’t exactly have to be an expert in body language to come to the conclusion that Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola is not in a particularly good place at the moment. Or is he?

What is most interesting, however, about this recent “ ‘Kevin-esque’ – you’re so unfair” display can be found in its timing and motivation rather than its content.

Alternative FA Cup third round preview: Get West Ham a player, any player, now.

Slaven Bilic to stand outside the Man City dressing room with a big bin bag

West Ham are desperate to make a signing this January. Any signing, they’re not fussy. Indeed, the Hammers have adopted the transfer strategy of a Football Manager player setting the search filter to ‘anyone’ over the past week. First they made a bid for Jermain Defoe. Then Scott Hogan. Then Moussa Dembele.

 

Premier League: Manchester City only behind United in terms of titles - Pep

Pep Guardiola has stressed Manchester City are only behind Manchester United when it comes to silverware, and is adamant they have at least been on par with their arch-rivals in recent years.