Manchester City’s Confidence Debate: Gundogan, Guardiola, and Walker at Odds Amid Poor Form
Manchester City endured another setback, losing 2-0 to Juventus in the Champions League. Following the defeat, Ilkay Gundogan pointed to confidence issues within the squad, but his remarks were at odds with the views of manager Pep Guardiola and teammate Kyle Walker.
Gundogan’s Honest Assessment
After the loss in Turin, Gundogan shared a candid perspective on the team’s struggles, attributing their dip in form to a lack of confidence. The German midfielder explained:
“Confidence is a big part of it. That’s a mental issue as well. You can see that we are sometimes one action—we miss the ball or lose a duel—and you see that we drop immediately and lose the rhythm. They don’t even need to do much, but it has such a big effect on us right now.”
City’s form has indeed been troubling, with seven defeats in their last 10 games across all competitions. The loss to Juventus has left City teetering on the brink of an early Champions League exit, currently sitting 22nd in the pecking order. Their upcoming clash against Paris Saint-Germain on January 22 could prove decisive, with a defeat allowing PSG to overtake them.
Guardiola Refutes Gundogan’s Claim
Despite the concerning statistics, Pep Guardiola dismissed Gundogan’s comments, maintaining that confidence isn’t the issue. The City boss, who is navigating what might be one of his most challenging periods as a manager, insisted that the team’s performances have largely been positive.
“I am not agreeing with Ilkay. Of course, it is tough—except for one or two games in this period that were not good, the rest we played well,” Guardiola argued. “I give credit to Juventus for the way they played and defended in the transitions. But we were incredibly aggressive in our high pressing… The way we played, I’m really pleased.”
Guardiola’s remarks reflect his attempt to focus on the positives amid City’s poor results, even as the pressure mounts.
Kyle Walker Backs Guardiola’s Stance
Guardiola isn’t alone in disputing Gundogan’s assessment. After City’s 4-0 drubbing by Tottenham Hotspur in November, Kyle Walker made it clear he doesn’t believe confidence is the root of the problem. The veteran defender called such suggestions “stupid” and emphasized the team’s resilience.
“We’re going through a bad spell, but we will come out the other end of it,” Walker said after the Tottenham loss. “We’ve got the characters and more than enough ability in there to do so. Do I think we’ve lost confidence? No, I think it’s stupid for us to say that. We just need to start winning again.”
Walker’s defiant stance mirrors Guardiola’s, focusing on the team’s ability to turn things around rather than dwelling on psychological factors.
City’s Uphill Battle
Since the Tottenham defeat, City have managed just one win in their last five matches, drawing two and losing two. The team’s poor run of form is testing the mettle of players and staff alike. While Gundogan’s honesty resonates with fans concerned about the squad’s mentality, Guardiola and Walker’s perspectives offer a contrasting message of resilience and optimism.
The January 22 showdown with Paris Saint-Germain could make or break City’s Champions League campaign. As the debate over confidence continues, Manchester City will need to rediscover their rhythm quickly if they hope to salvage their season.
