Pep Guardiola has been in a reflective mood recently, contemplating the loneliness that often accompanies defeat and the need for a break from the unyielding rhythm of the football season. Meanwhile, Ruben Dias has become the embodiment of Manchester City’s resilience, speaking passionately about how doubt and adversity fuel their strength.

Dias expressed, “That people doubt is the one thing that brings you strength, inspires you to be greater.” He emphasized that a legacy is not solely defined by triumphs like the Treble or consecutive titles, but rather by how a team responds during their toughest times. For Dias, it’s these challenging moments that will ultimately define City’s legacy. His words are particularly poignant given City’s current struggles, having won only one of their last nine matches and conceded 22 goals. The upcoming clash with Juventus has become crucial, with the result determining whether City will face an unwanted Champions League play-off round or gain a necessary break.

Guardiola’s reflections, shared in a podcast with renowned Spanish chef Dani Garcia, further illustrate the gravity of the situation. Recorded just before City’s heavy 4-0 loss to Tottenham, Guardiola’s insights provide a glimpse into his mindset as he navigates this difficult period.

Pep Guardiola has cut an increasingly troubled figure on the Manchester City touchline as this campaign wears on

Ruben Dias remained confident about Manchester City’s chances against Juventus, but the upcoming clash has become crucial. Guardiola, amidst the struggles, acknowledged that despite having signed a new contract, he is feeling the weight of the situation. While he expressed a desire for rest, he recognized that the demands of the job make that impossible at the moment. His commitment to the rebuild is clear, but he also discussed the draining effect of the challenges City have faced, particularly highlighting the “lack of energy” within the squad.

Guardiola reflected on the solitude of his position, particularly after tough defeats, revealing the emotional toll it takes on him. “The pain of defeat only happens to one (person),” he admitted. “When you go to sleep and turn off the light, there’s no consolation possible. You have to swallow it. Why did I do this? Did I do it wrong? Did I not push them enough? Did I make a bad decision?”

In a rare admission, Guardiola shifted focus away from City’s injury crisis and criticized the individual errors that have hindered their progress. He pointed to Kyle Walker’s involvement in Crystal Palace’s goals and the mistakes that marred the 3-3 draw with Feyenoord. “We punish ourselves in many games,” he said.

Guardiola emphasized that the key to City’s recovery lies in returning to their core principles of play. “What will save us is the way we play,” he explained. “The mistakes are consequences of not playing in the way we have to. The way we have to play is so simple.” He pointed out that their strength in past successes came from their relentless energy without the ball, and patient buildup with it. Now, he believes the team is rushing, playing too quickly and losing the ball too often, leading to transitions and counterattacks that have hurt their momentum.

In a rare move, Pep Guardiola has turned some of the blame for Manchester City’s struggles onto his players, critiquing individual performances and emphasizing the need for a return to basic football principles. Despite his philosophical approach to the game, the message was clear: simplicity is key.

Guardiola urged his players to focus on “doing the simple things better,” explaining that confidence would naturally follow as a result. He added, “You cannot imagine how you regain the confidence when you make an extra thousand million passes,” suggesting that overcomplicating play had become a barrier to their success.

The City boss clarified that he doesn’t expect his players to perform like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi—two of football’s greatest. Instead, he emphasized that each player should focus on what they do best, with the ultimate goal being to rebuild from the ground up. “Even if it’s at the bottom… from here we are going to build,” Guardiola concluded, indicating that City’s path to recovery will be gradual, focusing on fundamentals before attempting to regain their former dominance.