Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola expressed his pride after losing the Community Shield to Liverpool – but dismissed suggestions the game could be a benchmark for the season.
The Reds won the traditional curtain-raiser 3-1 at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Saturday evening to claim the silverware for the first time since 2006 and a 16th time in total. Only Manchester United have won it more often.
After Julian Alvarez equalised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first-half opener, Liverpool substitute Darwin Nunez won a penalty converted by Mohamed Salah and then scored his first goal following his £64million summer move from Benfica.
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City and Liverpool are expected to lead the fight to win the Premier League this season, but Guardiola said when asked if the game could be a benchmark: “We will see. I don’t know exactly what is going to happen. I don’t have this vision.”
Guardiola added: “Congratulations to Liverpool. The first 15-20 minutes they were better and after we got our game going it was quite similar (between the teams) in the last 20-25 minutes (of the first half), we arrive when they leave the space.
“The second half we started really well, our game was there, we were really good against this team, confident and creating enough chances to do it, then they make the transition and the penalty and after was more difficult
“We have two weeks and little bit since we start (pre-season) so we cannot expect too much. I said to the players how proud I was. We have to improve and the timing is not much what we have to do. We need this month along with training to get our tempo and we will do it.”
City’s own big-money arrival, £51m man Erling Haaland, had a miserable time and missed a sitter during injury time when hitting the crossbar from six yards with the goal gaping.
But Guardiola said: “He had chances, two or three in the first half and one at the end, always there. He fought a lot and made the movements. It is good for him to see the reality of a new country and new league. He was there but today he didn’t score and another day he will score.
“Am I worried? No, no, no, he has an incredible quality and he will do it. He has an incredible sense. He has just two weeks, two weeks and a half. I am really comfortable what we are seeing since we arrive this season. The season starts and we are going to be ourselves again.”
Of Haaland’s miss, Guardiola added: “He is strong, another time he will put it in the net. It happened. It is football. He was there. He had another goal disallowed because the ball was out.
“It is good to understand sometimes. I am absolutely not concerned. The reality is we have two or three months ahead of us. He is going to help us.”
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