{"id":290315,"date":"2023-09-28T08:34:29","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T08:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=290315"},"modified":"2023-09-28T08:34:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T08:34:29","slug":"pep-guardiola-takes-positives-from-man-city-display-despite-carabao-cup-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/pep-guardiola-takes-positives-from-man-city-display-despite-carabao-cup-exit\/","title":{"rendered":"Pep Guardiola takes positives from Man City display despite Carabao Cup exit"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola was counting the positives despite seeing Manchester City dumped out of the Carabao Cup at Newcastle.<\/p>\n
Wednesday night\u2019s 1-0 defeat at St James\u2019 Park ended City\u2019s interest at the third-round stage, although boss Guardiola scoffed at the suggestion afterwards that a quadruple to go with last season\u2019s treble was ever on the cards.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless the Spaniard, who made eight changes for the trip to Tyneside, was focusing on the future and the prospect of more silverware despite the disappointment of defeat.<\/p>\n
Guardiola said: \u201cWe have incredibly positive things for many, many players for their good play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe competitions we won plus the European Super Cup, we have three more competitions to play in. For the rest of the teams, good luck for the Carabao Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Only Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol and Julian Alvarez of those who started Saturday\u2019s 2-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest did so again against the Magpies as Guardiola used the depth of his impressive squad.<\/p>\n
That meant places in the XI for England duo Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish, as well as Mateo Kovacic, and there was a first senior start for 20-year-old midfielder Oscar Bobb and another first-team appearance for teenager Rico Lewis.<\/p>\n
Oscar was more than brilliant in all parts, offence and defence<\/p>\n
Asked about Bobb\u2019s contribution, Guardiola said: \u201cOscar was more than brilliant in all parts, offence and defence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s played as a number 10, as a striker, as a winger. We know in the pockets in the middle he moves really well. His intensity is good, he works without the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
City dominated the first half without creating clear-cut chances other than an attempt from Alvarez which was blocked by keeper Nick Pope, and ultimately they were made to pay by Alexander Isak, whose 53rd-minute strike as the home side rallied after the break proved decisive.<\/p>\n
Guardiola said: \u201cWe were brilliant first half. I think Newcastle couldn\u2019t accept [our first-half dominance], they increased the rhythm and aggression and kicking and they were there, more aggressive.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe struggled a little, but that\u2019s normal. I said at half-time the second half will not be like the first. I don\u2019t know how many fouls they did and how many we did, but we had double yellow cards. It is what it is.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said to be there in the bad moments and we were there. At the end, we could not win. Congratulations to Newcastle.\u201d<\/p>\n
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