Pep Guardiola admitted he was disappointed that his Manchester City players were unable to use his successful prediction of Mikel Arteta’s tactics in the FA Cup semi-finals.
City was pushed aside by Arsenal in a surprising 2-0 win for the Gunners, with Guardiola’s previous No. 2 in charge of the opposing field.
Guardiola insisted that he knew Arteta would continue to play five behind after her shock win over Liverpool, and was frustrated that his players were miserably underperforming.
He said BT Sport: ‘We didn’t play well. The only regret is not to lose the game – that can happen – but it is that we didn’t play the first half like the second.
“We didn’t play well and we didn’t play on a day you had to.
“We started low and without the way you have to play.
“We are always ready, but today we weren’t.
‘I knew they played five in the back and with a lot of pressure. You defended well.
“It happened against Liverpool too, so we knew it. But we weren’t good. We have to play well to get through.
‘We have two weeks now, so we want to play the final [of the Champions League]. We want to be in rhythm.
“It is the last opportunity we have to take [to win another trophy]. ‘
Arsenal will now play against Chelsea or Manchester United in the FA Cup final on May 18.
Frank Lampard’s men and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team go from head to toe at Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
MORE: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praises Ainsley Maitlaind-Niles for changing his mentality and attitude
MORE: Kieran Tierney apologizes for the dressing room celebration after Arsenal defeated Man City
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