Pep Guardiola defends defensive approach against Arsenal: “Sometimes the opponent is better”

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has explained why his side appeared unusually defensive in their 1-1 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

City, who are often praised for their dominance in possession, registered just 32.8% of the ball at the Emirates — the lowest figure for any Guardiola-managed side in his entire career. This led to criticism that the Spaniard “parked the bus,” a tactic he has long been associated with opposing rather than adopting.

Speaking ahead of City’s next fixture, Guardiola dismissed suggestions that he had abandoned his football philosophy. Instead, he credited Arsenal for forcing City into an uncomfortable style of play.

“Maybe the players are the most credible to talk about if I really changed the approach,” Guardiola said. “They are in every meeting, every game. I think it’s completely the same. What changed is the opponents played a different way, and we were not able to do it better. Arsenal were better.”

The City boss admitted he did not enjoy seeing his team pushed back but added that adaptability is also part of football.
“I don’t like to play in the way we played at Arsenal, but sometimes the opponents are good and create challenges you cannot handle. Since I retire, I would love to play in the way I want to play, but sometimes we are not good, sometimes the opponent is better.”

Opinion:
Guardiola’s comments strike at the heart of football’s eternal debate: do great teams stick to their philosophy no matter what, or adapt when challenged? City’s display against Arsenal wasn’t their typical fluid football, but perhaps it was a reminder that even the most dominant teams must occasionally yield ground.

Credit must also go to Arsenal. To force Guardiola’s Manchester City into a defensive shell is no small feat, and it highlights just how far Mikel Arteta’s side has come. For City fans, it might have been strange to watch their team so passive, but it’s also proof that Guardiola values pragmatism when the situation demands.

At the end of the day, football is not just about sticking stubbornly to ideals; it’s about finding ways to survive difficult moments. Guardiola may not like the label of “parking the bus,” but his ability to adapt — even reluctantly — could be one of the secrets to his sustained success.