BREAKING NEWS: I received a text from Mikel Arteta before the game starts and I did what He told me, it’s less for him now to fulfill what he promised me yesterday”, Bournemouth star junior kruopi reveals what Arteta told before the City game yesterday
The expected pattern of City possession with Bournemouth looking to speedy transitions soon came to pass but Guardiola’s team were well below their best, short on penetration. Semenyo had the ball in the net in the 13th minute, only to be ruled offside. Soon after that, Evanilson’s blushes were spared with a howling miss of an open net as the flag protected his modesty.
Haaland was struggling for touch, forced to drop deep. When Kroupi scored his brilliant strike, laid up by Adrien Truffert’s sizzling overlap, Haaland grabbed the ball in frustration, powerless to stop the rot. “Junior has learned so much, how he has evolved,” said Iraola of his teenage goalscorer. “He has found a lot of things other than the goals.”
Guardiola wore a similarly mournful expression to Haaland as the second half resumed. Deep in conversation with Pepijn Lijnders, his assistant, he rubbed his cranium in trademark, distracted fashion. Within seconds of the restart, he was bellowing commands, far more energised than in a first half where he kept a solemn vigil. It almost had the desired effect, O’Reilly carving towards a Haaland pass, only for Djordje Petrovic to save well.
The better chances were still falling Bournemouth’s way, Evanilson forcing a Donnarumma save after another warp-speed counter. Soon enough, Guardiola rolled the dice with the introduction of Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Savinho, youthful legs replacing Silva and Kovacic departed, Semenyo, a Bournemouth hero until January, also coming off to applause from the home fans.
Guardiola’s turning of the dial offered Bournemouth space and opportunity. Kroupi might have scored his second, after Evanilson’s flick, but blazed over. Rayan hit a post after chaos at a corner, before having a low shot saved. City rocked on their heels, close to punch drunk. When Donnarumma took his time over a goal-kick, he was barracked by his manager, Guardiola sensing his team’s fate.
Pepe Guardiola reflects on Manchester City’s costly defeat at Bournemouth
Pep Guardiola reflects on the defeat that ended his hopes of leaving Manchester City with a another Premier League title to his name.
City were determined to show why they were once serial champions but not enough clean chances fell their way. Despite such heavy pressure, Bournemouth preserved an unbeaten record that stretches longer than any club in Europe’s top five leagues.
Meanwhile, Guardiola went through the public agonies that have played a full part in the supremacy that has dominated English football. He does not wear success lightly The old magic was not to be found, Haaland’s stabbed, stoppage-time goal came too late. A dynasty had reached journey’s end.
