Guardiola: Players deserve this break | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has encouraged his players to enjoy a well-deserved break with no domestic fixtures for a fortnight.

City completed a hectic but fantastic January with a 1-1 draw away to Southampton, ending our impressive winning streak but extending our unbeaten run to nine.

The Premier League Champions’ blistering form over the past three months has hurtled the team nine points clear atop the table and secured progression in the FA Cup.

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As the domestic calendar breaks for international duty, Guardiola has called on the squad to enjoy their time off as just reward for their exceptional efforts.

“Now to enjoy the holiday as they deserve it,” he said, when asked of his message to the players in the aftermath of the draw at St Mary’s.

“When they come back, we will start again training and put the team in the best condition as possible.

“It is what it is. It's the international break – we have some days off and after we start against Fulham and the Premier League.”

Though City head into the break having dropped points with the stalemate at St Mary’s, Guardiola asserted he was pleased with the display, as the visitors fought back from a goal down.

“All of you judge the result; I try to judge the performance,” he told press.

“The performance was much better than the game against Arsenal and much, much better than other games we have played.

“We know which team we faced. It was really good in many, many ways. We played as a team and we defended each other. In attack, we created chances, we arrived at the final by-line several times.

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“We conceded one goal, one free kick, one corner with the chances they had. More than that we can do.

“People can believe every game you have to win 5 or 6-0… I’m sorry but maybe you are wrong all of you to think you have to win all the games until the end of the season.

“I said before the game we are going to drop but these will not be the last ones. We will try to minimise and try to win the next one and the next one and especially to play and behave the way we played.

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“It was an excellent performance. I'm so pleased with the guys with what they done.

“We are disappointed as we want to win – we could not do it but sometimes it happens.

“I saw the team really well in all departments. I’m sorry, this is my feeling.

“We can do better, yeah of course all the time. I know the quality of the opponent and sometimes, it's difficult.”