There is an edge to Pep Guardiola which is dangerous for Manchester City’s rivals | OneFootball

Earlier this week Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola had signed a contract extension for a further two seasons. That news was a huge boost to the world champions as they can now plan for the future with Guardiola confirmed as City’s manager for the foreseeable future. But something else appeared evident during Pep Guardiola’s press conference ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Tottenham. There is an edge to the Manchester City manager. A glint in his eye so to speak. If history is any guide that is bad news for Manchester City’s rivals going forward.

As is par for the course for any Pep Guardiola press conference the City manager was asked once again about Manchester City’s pending legal case. A verdict in City’s infamous ‘115’ case is still pending. But Guardiola explained that leading his club through such times inspires him. He explained: “I don’t enjoy it. I prefer not to be in that position, but once it’s there, I love it. You believe in your club and the people there. I believe what they say to me and the reasons why. I said, ‘OK, let’s see.’ I cannot say [any more] yet because we’re awaiting the sentence in February or March – I don’t know when – but, at the same time, I like it.”

Pep Guardiola knows the majority of the Premier League is against Manchester City.

There was also another quote from the Manchester City manager that stood out during the embargoed section of his pre-game press conference. Guardiola explained that he believes that 75% of the clubs in the Premier League want Manchester City relegated. He told the media: “I read something about the situation and how we need to be relegated immediately. Seventy-five per cent of the clubs want it, because I know what they do behind the scenes. But I don’t live with it. I live with the four defeats, what I have to do. There are lawyers on both sides. I don’t think about it.”

There is an edge to Pep Guardiola, and if he can create a siege mentality at Manchester City, it could be dangerous for City’s rivals.

It is clear after watching Pep Guardiola speak ahead of City’s clash with Tottenham that there is an edge to the Manchester City manager. He looks to be fired up by the challenge of lifting his team out of their four-game losing run. That stands out when you watch him speak. But Pep Guardiola looks fired up for what lies ahead. The never ending coverage of Manchester City’s legal ‘battles’ with the Premier League do appear to have lit a fire under Guardiola. That is dangerous for City’s rivals. We have seen him tap into this before to create a siege mentality to inspire his team. The fact that he believes the world is against City so to speak can help him create a siege mentality to lift his team.

A master motivator like Pep Guardiola will seize on anything to motivate his team. That has been on display all throughout his reign as Manchester City manager. Whether it’s chasing even more history or appeared sleights aimed at his team Guardiola will use them as motivation. When he does that his team follows his lead. It now appears that a new contract and questions around the legal cases surrounding his club have inspired Pep Guardiola. That’s where it gets dangerous for City’s rivals. Once Guardiola taps into the narrative surrounding his club he has proven time and time again that he will use it to motivate his players and they go to another level. Based on how he spoke at his pre-game press conference it appears that Guardiola maybe about to do similar again.

There appears to be an edge to Pep Guardiola once again. It will be interesting to see if his team follows his lead at the Etihad against Tottenham. If history is any guide they will. That’s where it could get dangerous for Manchester City’s rivals. If Guardiola can inspire his team they may quickly snap out of their recent slump. That adds an intriguing layer to what promises to a crucial run of fixtures for the world champions.