Man City’s failure means now is the time to question Pep Guardiola, says Thierry Henry following Manchester derby defeat | Football News

Thierry Henry issued a defense against his former boss Pep Guardiola on Monday Night Footballbut admitted that the Manchester City manager could be “questioned” for the first time amid their lack of form.

Henry questioned why Guardiola allowed goalscorers like Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Cole Palmer to leave the Etihad unchanged, and questioned where the goals are coming from when Erling Haaland isn’t firing on all cylinders.

City have now lost eight of their last 12 games following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat in the Manchester derby, which left them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table, having played a game more than leaders Liverpool.

Despite struggling defensively in Rodri’s absence, Guardiola’s side have also recorded the lowest number of goals in every game since his arrival.

“We all know, it’s the first time and we are allowed to say, that we can challenge his decisions in the way of letting Cole Palmer go, Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez,” said Henry.

“Ilkay Gundogan is back and he’s not the same Gundogan who scored 17 goals a year.

“You miss these goals. Erling Haaland is scoring the same goals, less than in his first season but he is doing what he usually does.

“I’ve seen him miss players every season, but where are the goals of Mahrez, Alvarez or Kevin De Bruyne, Gundogan?”

Henry said he did not expect Guardiola to quit, weeks after signing a new two-year contract that will see him through to June 2027, but defended the manager he worked with in his first job at Barcelona for the consistency he has achieved. since then.

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“One thing I will say about this team, this is the first time this has happened to him in his career, we should not kill the boy or the team because of what is happening,” he said.

“You can never say (that he can quit) – but Pep is not that kind of coach. He is tough, tough and dangerous when you win, because he wants to keep you there.

“And he’s very good when he’s on the floor, you can see when the team has played well he’ll say ‘I love my team, they played well tonight’.

“And sometimes he comes on the pitch and participates when his team wins 3-0, you can see him arguing that someone has missed.

“I like that. You change when you’re at the top, you try to change to stay there. When you’re here, you try to be a better person now.”

Carra: This is the first Pep rebuild that feels like one

Jamie Carragher added that City’s struggles only show how much rebuilding is needed as the evolution of their squad has looked stagnant in previous years, despite having to replace legends like Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany throughout Guardiola’s time at the club.

He said: “This is the first time I feel like a rebuild, although there have been but they have done so well that they did not miss the players you are talking about.”

“This is what every club has been through. You look at Jurgen Klopp a few years ago, Man Utd under Sir Alex Ferguson when you look at it and think it will take them a few years to get back to where they were. .

“Because Pep is so good, you never felt like he was being arrested even though it was.