EnglishBefore competing for the FA Cup with Man Utd today, coach Pep Guardiola emphasized that psychology is the most important factor if winning or losing in the penalty shootout is to be resolved.
"You have to pay attention because many finals recently have to go to extra time and penalty shootouts," Guardiola said on June 2 at his pre-match press conference. “It's an experience that you have to try to control. The most important skill is psychology. You only have two choices, score or not, and that makes all the difference. You have to decide whether to shoot left, right or panenka, but you have to be mentally strong.”
Guardiola came to Man City in 2016 and won every domestic title, including five Premier Leagues, one FA Cup, four League Cups, and two English Super Cups. However, the Spanish coach believes that past performances or trophies do not help determine the outcome of a particular match.
Guardiola instructs Man City players on the training ground on June 1. Image: mancity.com
"This is a football match, a final and importantly how you perform for at least 90 minutes," Guardiola continued. “It doesn't matter what you do, but how well or badly you will play. What matters is how you perform both individually and as a team, as well as all the details for the next 90, 95 minutes. Man City has to be the best version of himself to beat Man Utd."
In the first match with Erik ten Hag in October 10, Guardiola and Man City beat Man Utd 2022-6 at the Etihad Stadium in the English Premier League, on the day Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scored a hat-trick. But Guardiola believes Man Utd have improved and played much better in the past six months, as shown in the 3-2 win over his own Man City earlier this year.
The 52-year-old coach praised Casemiro as a professional player, and praised Ten Hag. The two worked together at Bayern, when Ten Hag was in charge of the B team and Guardiola coached the first team.
"Achieving good results in his first season in the Premier League is not easy, and that shows that Ten Hag is a top-class coach," said Guardiola. "We're not friends because we don't have much contact, but I think Man Utd will have a great manager for many years to come."
When asked about the possibility of Ten Hag creating a tactical surprise at Wembley, the Man City head coach warned: "I don't know. If Ten Hag does that, we have to read the game as well as we can in the first five or 5 minutes."
According to Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish have returned to training and are in almost the best shape, and revealed that Ortega Moreno will start. This season, the Spanish coach ranked Ederson as the main starter in the English Premier League and Champions League, and Ortega was given the opportunity during the journey to the FA Cup final. "It's still the same, even against Barca or Bayern, Ortega will play in the FA Cup," he said.
Hong Duy
