Speaking after the 0-3 win in Mallorca, Pep Guardiola admitted his players had found it hard to get going in the game, but felt that they had improved after the break.
Good luck to Laudrup
Guardiola also heaped praise on his old Dream Team teammate Michael Laudrup, who manages Mallorca:
“I can’t say anything bad. It’s not an easy situation at the club and his team is
putting in a better than good campaign. I hope he finishes the season well”.
Clearly happy with the three points from what he claimed is never an easy place to come to,
Guardiola reckoned that his team’s slow start: “has to serve as a lesson for other
games”.
Another story after the break
The boss explained: “we found it harder than ever to get going tonight and
that has to serve as a lesson for other games. Obviously the goal helped us. It was another story
altogether after the break though, we played with more intensity and suffered less”.
First of three big challenges
Guardiola was happy with the points: “in the first of three big games we have
this week… we are on a good run, remember that Mallorca have taken a lot of points
here”.
Injuries
The team showed in Mallorca that the squad has enough quality to cover for any
absences and Guardiola commented: “these things always happen during a season, we knew that
the injured guys wouldn’t be here- we prepared the match and the players responded well. If
we lose, it won’t be down to the players who are missing. The titles we have won have been
won by everybody and I have a lot of faith in my players”.
Keita
Guardiola made special mention of Keita’s contribution: “he is one of
the most dependable players a manager could have. Without doubt, it was him who held us together in
the first half”. Looking to the future, Guardiola concluded: “we have to get over the
knocks we’ve picked up and prepare for the tough game we face in Mestalla”.