“All this old men do is to criticize let them enter the pitch and Caoch”-Man City boss Pep Guardiola fires back at Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher

Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, responds to Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher.
With Rodri sidelined, Guardiola suggests Phillips could get an opportunity at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola took a go at Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher after Manchester City lost momentum in the Premier League title battle over the weekend. Tottenham held the reigning champions to a stalemate at home, extending their losing streak to three league games.

After the final whistle, Gary Neville was among the analysts to criticise City of being too complacent, while Richards felt that something was ‘simply not right’ at his former club. Guardiola responded angrily to their remarks during Tuesday’s news conference, which also saw the Spaniard take aim at fellow pundit Carragher.

“I know here, when we don’t win, there’s ‘complacency’ and you don’t have character,” Guardiola went on to say. “Then when you win, it’s because we’re still hungry.” Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t believe it’s about laziness.

“I’m familiar with the players. Our behaviour is amazing. I believe we will win the Premier League again if we maintain our current level of performance. He understands how difficult it is; else, Gary Neville would have won four Premier League titles during Manchester United’s finest period. But, you know, he didn’t do it.

In Tuesday’s news conference, Pep Guardiola took aim at Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher (Image: GETTY).
“Jamie Carragher never won the Premier League.” Micah Richards did not win the Premier League four years in a row. Never, ever, ever. It has never occurred. I witness how my squad fights, how they press, how they persevere till the end, and how furious they are after we succumb. So I don’t have that sensation.

“Perhaps I’m mistaken, and they’re seeing everything I’m not. But I don’t have that sensation. Maintaining the level of Liverpool, Tottenham, and Chelsea, in my opinion, is extremely tough. We will accomplish it if we are capable. This is the goal: to maintain our current level of play.”

Manchester City have drawn three of their past four Premier League games (Image: GETTY).
After referring to Mikel Arteta when discussing referees at the end of Sunday’s draw with Tottenham, Guardiola went on to say that he has no time for mind games. He stated in his post-match interview that he would not “do a Mikel Arteta comment,” referring to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s outrage after losing at Newcastle due to a contentious VAR ruling.

Guardiola addressed the issue on Tuesday, saying, “People say, ‘Oh you wanted to poke fun at Mikel.'” I didn’t want to offend Mikel. It was a small joke, and perhaps some folks missed it. I call Mikel whenever I have something to say to him. We had only spoken about a week before.

“The goal of mind games is to outperform your opponents.” Mind games is having the ball for 15 minutes and creating opportunities. The mind games are if you are far superior than them. Managers to regulate players’ emotions before and after the game? “Not a chance.”