Pep Guardiola: Man City went back to the drawing board following West Brom draw

Pep Guardiola has admitted the frustrating home draw against West Brom in the middle of December was a real turning point in Manchester City‘s season.

City were held to a 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened West Brom on December 15, a result that left them five points off top spot with Guardiola’s side failing to hit top gear.

But following that agonising draw, and with their title hopes being questioned, City turned a corner in style and are marching towards the Premier League having won every match since.

Manchester City are storming towards their third Premier League title in just four seasons

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And Guardiola has since claimed that he didn’t like his City side earlier on in the season, admitting that they ran ‘too much’ which was affecting their attacking play.

When asked by Rio Ferdinand what had changed following the 2-0 loss at Tottenham on November 21, which left them eight points off top spot, Ferdinand told the BT Sport pundit: ‘In that moment, we realised we were not brilliant. Everything was heavy. It was not natural so we adjust something, and especially to put more players in front of the box.

‘But especially it was the day after West Brom at home when we drew 1-1. We could have won but I went to myself, my staff and friends and said I don’t like the team, I don’t like the way we play. It doesn’t matter the results, I don’t like. I don’t recognise my team the way we should play.

‘And we just came back to the principles, that’s all. So the wingers high and wide, a lot of players in the middle and come back without the ball, run like animals and with the ball, be more calm, play more passes, think more in what we have to do than instead think about the results.

City’s title credentials were brought into question after a 1-1 draw at home to West Brom

‘The quality of the players, they win one game they are confident. And then another one, another one, another one. But I think the West Brom game, I reflected and I didn’t like at all what I am watching.’

When asked specifically by Ferdinand on what it was he didn’t like about his side, Guardiola admitted that they had to be much calmer in an attacking sense.

The Spaniard added: ‘We ran too much, we were not in the position. We ran too much without knowing exactly what we have to do with the ball. Our strength is when we have the ball.

‘Everyone knows exactly where the team-mates are on the pitch and that helped us to be more calm, use the presses.

‘Of course I think the team was always ready to fight without the ball, but with the ball we were not good. We weren’t attacking with 10 passes, with four passes just attack, attack, so quick. Everyone was just so quick, and football you have to change the rhythm.’

Pep Guardiola said he didn’t like what he was watching from his side after the West Brom draw

With Liverpool looking formidable earlier on in the season and City looking rather vulnerable, especially without their usual attacking flair, many started to doubt City’s title aspirations.

But they have since put everyone to shame, winning 15 consecutive Premier League games following the draw at home to West Brom.

Guardiola’s side are on the brink of recapturing their top-flight title after extending their lead at the top of the table to 14 points with just 11 matches remaining.

Next up for City it’s rivals Manchester United at home, and they will be confident of prolonging their winning streak against a side who have recently slipped up in the title race.