Pep Guardiola shoots at ‘lucky’ Man City and slams Etihad Boo-Boys in Spurs win before admitting: I don’t recognize my team

PEP GUARDIOLA has turned on his players and fans despite a dramatic 4-2 comeback win over Spurs.

The Manchester City boss believes his team has softened after winning four of their last five titles and said he also needs his home support back.

The reigning champions got their title bid back on track after a 4-2 comeback win over Tottenham, thanks largely to a 12-minute streak after the break.

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But City were staring at half-time for a fourth defeat in 10 Premier League games.

That’s because Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal scored late in the opening period to give Spurs a 2-0 lead.

And City was booed.

But what Guardiola said in the dressing room worked as his side turned the game around instantly thanks to goals from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez.

The Algeria star then secured the points late after a skillful lob against Hugo Lloris.

When asked what his team was missing, Guardiola said: “Courage, passion, fire, the will to win from minute one. The same goes for our fans, they are silent for 45 minutes.

“We’re a long way from the team we were. Not playfully, we played well in the first half but here are a lot of things in terms of competitiveness and what we need to do that we’re far away.

“We have to do it, but everyone is relaxed. Definitely not in the Premier League.

“In Arsenal we have an opponent who has the fire. Two decades without winning the Premier League and every player knows they will go down in history like how we felt when we won the first Premier League and broke all the records and went back twice. support.

“We must have the fire inside. I explain the reality, everything is so convenient, but the opponents do not wait.

“I don’t recognize my team, they (used to) had the passion and desire to run.”

City reduced the lead over Arsenal to five points with the win.

But Guardiola said: “We are a long way from the squad we had in previous seasons.

“Do you think this comeback will happen every time? It won’t. Do you think we’ll chase the gap to Arsenal the way we play? No way.”

“I want a reaction from the players and staff. I don’t want to be a Happy Flowers team.

“I want to beat Arsenal but if we play like this, Arsenal will beat us.”

The Manchester City boss watched as his team fell twice from behind at half-time through Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal and was booed at half-time.

Guardiola said: “They booed because we lost, but not because we played badly – we played well. Maybe it’s like our team.

“Maybe they feel comfortable enough to win four Premier Leagues in five years. And after we score, they react, but that’s not the point.

“I want my fans back. My fans in here. Not my away fans, my away fans are the best.

“My fans are here to support every corner, every move, because we can’t wait. Tottenham are one of the toughest opponents I’ve ever faced.

So we couldn’t count on a 3-0 lead after 30 minutes.”

City roared back through Julian Alvarez in the 51st minute, Erling Haaland two minutes later and then a brace from Riyah Mahrez in the 63rd and 90th minutes.

The result put pressure on Spurs boss Antonio Conte, who has now seen his side lose three of their last four Premier League games.

Conte said: “We played a good game with personality, we put a lot of pressure on them. At the same time, I’m disappointed because it’s the first time in my career that my team have conceded four goals in one half.

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“When I tell you that we have to try to close the gap, the process has only just begun and that means you have to improve the experience of this team tactically and technically.

“We conceded a goal in the second half and another two minutes later.

“Usually in this case you have to stay calm and find solutions to spend ten minutes and breathe and then play. We quickly conceded the second goal.

“We were unlucky because we had a huge chance to score after the 2-2 lead. Instead, we conceded two more goals.

“We need patience and we need time to create something important. On the one hand I’m very disappointed because we conceded four goals.

“We’re conceding a lot more goals than last season. On the other hand, we’re good with more attention and focus because we played with personality and caused problems for Manchester City.

“These games are important to understand the difference between us and other top clubs. At this moment we have a lot of differences, but we are ready to keep working and fighting.”