The Domino Theory of Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s Lost Season

Introverts, in general, are uncomfortable in large groups, public speaking, and having numerous random questions being hurled at them.

The main reason for this, in my opinion, is that introverts feel deeply exposed, drained, and out of control by these settings. They also fear that they will say too much or too little or even say the wrong thing.

In this post-match press conference, Guardiola looked pensive (I know, he just lost a big match) and defensive, preparing for the questions to come. He knew that he can not control the environment nor how draining the experience would be.

When a question was asked, he focused his eyes and furrowed his brow at the reporter so that he could understand the question. As with almost every press conference, Pep looked away glancing down and away, keeping his head down, while making hand gestures to articulate his points. He mentioned several times that he did not know what had happened “wrong” in the match. Pep praised his team for creating chances, per his game plan.

A reporter asked two questions that Guardiola did not clearly answer or did not answer in the manner the reporter had wished. The reporter pressed on by asking for an answer to another question: whether or not Manchester City had conceded the Premier League title to Liverpool.

Pep glanced at the reporter, made direct eye contact, widened his eyes fully, made a comic smile, and nodded his head affirmatively.

The reporter stated that he could not “quote a nod” and asked for a verbal answer.

Pep provided one. Eventually.

City’s four-year manager stated several times that he did not know why things had gone wrong for his club in the match or the season. He mentioned that his team scored plenty of goals (true), had plenty of chances (true), and plenty of possession (also true), yet he does not know what happened to cause the negative results.