Micah Richards believes Pep Guardiola's explosive post-match interview on Thursday evening was like the Manchester City boss was 'at the end of his tether'.
The City boss went on a scathing rant about his players and the club's fans following their 4-2 comeback win against Tottenham Hotspur. Goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal handed Antonio Conte's side a two-goal lead going into the break, with a minority of those inside the Etihad booing the home side off.
Goals from Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland pulled it back inside 10 second-half minutes before Riyad Mahrez, excellent once again, scored two lovely goals to complete the comeback and pull City to within five points of table-toppers Arsenal. But speaking after the match, Guardiola criticised the fans before telling his players they lack guts, passion and desire.
ALSO READ: Every word Pep Guardiola said in Man City rant
"It was scathing, that interview," Richards told Sky Sports. "We normally see Pep’s interviews are very sarcastic, today he’s come out and it’s almost like he’s said he’s had enough of the situation of he’s producing something so good but no one seems to be satisfied.
"You talk about the level and the standard of the desire, not just of the players but when he started going and talking about the fans, it’s a difficult situation. When the fans boo it’s never acceptable, but it’s like he’s taken that really personally.
"He’s a top manager and he’s done great things, like we say four out of the last five [Premier League titles], but that interview was like he was at the end of his tether. I’ve not seen him like that before."
Jamie Carragher added: "Not many managers can get away with criticising their own supporters. Jurgen Klopp did it in his early time at Liverpool when a lot of supporters left before the end of a game. He’ll be fine. He’s not going to lose the supporters, he’s a god here to supporters and he’ll know that.
"I think he knows that if something doesn’t change here they’re going to lose the league and he may feel that everyone else in this club except him, it’s not a big deal but he knows what it takes to win that league as he’s been there, he’s been the main man, winning four titles in five years is almost taken for granted.
"This is a tough league to win, and he’s getting that message now, if City had lost tonight after Arsenal won on Sunday I think the league would be over. There’s no way Man City get back looking at the way they’re playing compared to how Arsenal are playing, and I think he knows that.
"As he said, 'we keep playing like that and we’re going to lose points', and that’s a message to everyone around Manchester City - yes there’s a long way to go, but we need to change and change quickly."
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