Pyatov excellently reads the play
Thursday, September 19, 2019
|
Press conference of Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola after the match vs Shakhtar in Kharkiv
- We started the Champions League away and secured a good result. Early in the second half, we had some excellent opportunities to make the game over. Anyway, all the guys were fantastic. We started better than last season.
- You said yesterday you’d find a solution to the central defensive problems. How pleased are you with Fernandinho’s performance?
- I had no doubts that he would do that. At the same time, both Fernandinho and Otamendi are in their thirties. Experience is to their advantage. I had another option - to field a young player, but that’s for one or two matches, and not for two or three months. Otamendi did well, he got his act together after the previous league match and performed exceptionally well. We will see how to further resolve the central defence issue. Perhaps I will use Walker and Rodri, since Nico and Fernandinho cannot play permanently.
- What did you say to Pyatov after the final whistle?
- He is one of the best keepers. He excellently reads the play and backs the defenders on time. Often, when we try to make a pass behind the back four, Pyatov anticipates the actions better than few keepers I’ve seen in my life, he reads exactly what happens in front of him, being really good at that.
- Don’t you think that before the matches you praise Shakhtar too much? You’ve actually won 9 of 12 games.
- Well, we saw Taison on the field - he’s a great dribbler. How did he make his way between our players making that incredible buildup, interacting with Marlos? Just incredible. You’ve recalled 12 games – I played against Willian, Fernandinho, Douglas Costa, Rakitsky, Chygrynskyy, Srna ... They are exceptional players. So I know how difficult that is. Yes, we managed to win, but against this team it’s very important to keep the rhythm. We often succeed at that: after all, the quality of Manchester City players is quite high. Also, always when I watch my opponents, I always try to discover the best they can do, I don’t see the weak points, I always see their strengths. Definitely, Shakhtar have quality.
- You opposed the teams of Lucescu, Fonseca, and Castro. Who did you find the most difficult to play against?
- Lucescu’s Shakhtar was very aggressive - remember what quality players he had back then. They were really tough one on one. In case of Fonseca and Castro, everything is more zonal. There are certain similarities: a lot of players in midfield, good build-up play. In defensive terms, Fonseca’s organization was better. But against Lucescu it was even more difficult because of the incredible aggressiveness, the team mentality ... It’s always harder at the beginning. And now it’s easier for me against Shakhtar, because I know these opponents well, and I know how to counterplay them in order to win. And, of course, I had exceptional football players at Barcelona, Bayern, and at Manchester City now.
- You said yesterday you’d find a solution to the central defensive problems. How pleased are you with Fernandinho’s performance?
- I had no doubts that he would do that. At the same time, both Fernandinho and Otamendi are in their thirties. Experience is to their advantage. I had another option - to field a young player, but that’s for one or two matches, and not for two or three months. Otamendi did well, he got his act together after the previous league match and performed exceptionally well. We will see how to further resolve the central defence issue. Perhaps I will use Walker and Rodri, since Nico and Fernandinho cannot play permanently.
- What did you say to Pyatov after the final whistle?
- He is one of the best keepers. He excellently reads the play and backs the defenders on time. Often, when we try to make a pass behind the back four, Pyatov anticipates the actions better than few keepers I’ve seen in my life, he reads exactly what happens in front of him, being really good at that.
- Don’t you think that before the matches you praise Shakhtar too much? You’ve actually won 9 of 12 games.
- Well, we saw Taison on the field - he’s a great dribbler. How did he make his way between our players making that incredible buildup, interacting with Marlos? Just incredible. You’ve recalled 12 games – I played against Willian, Fernandinho, Douglas Costa, Rakitsky, Chygrynskyy, Srna ... They are exceptional players. So I know how difficult that is. Yes, we managed to win, but against this team it’s very important to keep the rhythm. We often succeed at that: after all, the quality of Manchester City players is quite high. Also, always when I watch my opponents, I always try to discover the best they can do, I don’t see the weak points, I always see their strengths. Definitely, Shakhtar have quality.
- You opposed the teams of Lucescu, Fonseca, and Castro. Who did you find the most difficult to play against?
- Lucescu’s Shakhtar was very aggressive - remember what quality players he had back then. They were really tough one on one. In case of Fonseca and Castro, everything is more zonal. There are certain similarities: a lot of players in midfield, good build-up play. In defensive terms, Fonseca’s organization was better. But against Lucescu it was even more difficult because of the incredible aggressiveness, the team mentality ... It’s always harder at the beginning. And now it’s easier for me against Shakhtar, because I know these opponents well, and I know how to counterplay them in order to win. And, of course, I had exceptional football players at Barcelona, Bayern, and at Manchester City now.