Cristiano Ronaldo has just commented on Manchester City’s current form, responded to Pep Guardiola’s compliments for him and Messi, and expressed confidence in this team’s ability to revive.
During the press conference on October 29, coach Pep Guardiola made interesting statements about the competition between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo . He said:
“No one can beat Messi. Only Ronaldo can do that, because he is also a monster. And the father of that monster is Messi.”
However, in the context of Man City falling into a series of erratic performances, Ronaldo had extremely subtle and poignant responses to the Spanish strategist. Not only did Ronaldo not criticize Pep, he also showed respect and gave tactful advice to Guardiola and Man City players in a recent interview.
Pep once declared that Messi was on a higher level than Ronaldo.
Speaking to CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies during the 15th Globe Soccer Awards ceremony in Dubai, Ronaldo affirmed that the series of matches that caused Man City to drop to seventh place in the Premier League was only a temporary loss of form.
“Every team goes through ups and downs. Currently, Man City is facing a difficult period, but I fully believe that they will come back strongly. Pep is an extremely intelligent coach and he clearly understands where the problem is. I am sure that, with Pep’s leadership, the team will overcome this challenge,” Ronaldo shared.
When asked what he would say if he were in City’s dressing room, Ronaldo replied: “Less talk and more action. I would pull a few people aside and share my thoughts frankly, no need to say it in front of everyone. However, I believe that big teams and talented players are smart enough to recognize the problem and know how to fix it.”
This seems to be a contrast to what has happened at Man City in recent weeks when their form has dropped significantly. In the last 13 matches in all competitions, Man City only had 4 wins, an unacceptable achievement for a big team like them. Meanwhile, Manchester City is currently ranked 6th in the Premier League and has only 8 points after 6 matches in the Champions League.
In addition to sharing words about Pep and the team, Ronaldo also did not forget to send good wishes to Man City. The former Real Madrid star affirmed that although The Citizens are facing difficulties, he still believes that this team will regain their form and ability to win.
“I am sure that Man City will come back strongly. Big players and big teams always know how to handle difficult situations. They will overcome this and return to the top,” Ronaldo shared with firm belief.
The home team at Eithad Stadium is in deep crisis, winning only 1 of the last 13 matches.
Ronaldo did not directly confront Pep, but his shared words carried a hidden message, showing sophistication and intelligence in his response. Although Pep once said Messi was the “father” of “monsters” like Ronaldo, at this time, the way Ronaldo reacted to Man City’s difficult situation showed sophistication and ingenuity.
Instead of responding negatively or criticizing, Ronaldo chose to encourage and advise Pep and Man City’s players to focus on actions instead of words. It was a profound, meaningful response, and also a sign of respect for Guardiola and his team.