Pep Guardiola did not hide his disappointment after Manchester City secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Salford City in the FA Cup.
Although the result was enough to send City into the fifth round, the manner of the performance left their manager unimpressed.
Playing at the Etihad Stadium, the Premier League side were expected to dominate their League Two opponents with greater intensity and imagination.
Instead, Guardiola described the contest as lacking spark and urgency.
City were handed the advantage early on when Salford defender Alfie Dorrington inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
The breakthrough should have settled any nerves and paved the way for a fluent attacking display.
However, the home side struggled to build momentum. Their passing was steady but predictable, and they failed to stretch Salford’s defensive shape consistently.
It was not until late in the game that Marc Guéhi added a second goal — his first for the club — to make the outcome secure.
Despite the clean sheet and safe passage to the next round, Guardiola made it clear that he expected much more from his players.
Asked if he was satisfied with the showing, he replied: “No. We didn’t read the spaces where they were. With the spaces in attack it depends on how they defend it and we didn’t read it.”
He went further in his assessment, adding: “That is the reason why the game was boring. The only good news is we go through. That’s all.”
Guardiola’s teams are known for identifying gaps between opposition lines and exploiting them quickly. On this occasion, he felt his players did not interpret the game well enough.
The Spaniard opted to rotate heavily, making nine changes to his starting line-up. With a demanding fixture schedule in recent weeks, the tie provided an opportunity to rest key names and give others valuable minutes.
“It would be nice for me to say mentally we’re exhausted, we’re tired, it has been a tough two or three weeks for many reasons,” he said.
“But it’s our job. The calendar says to play every few days.”
He concluded his analysis with another frank verdict: “We just didn’t read where the spaces were and everything was flat and slow and not good.”
While Guardiola’s focus was largely on the shortcomings, there were positives to take from the afternoon.
Chief among them was the return of John Stones. The England defender featured for the first time in more than two months after recovering from a thigh problem.
Stones played 65 minutes as he continues his journey back to full fitness. His composure in possession and willingness to press forward offered encouragement, even if Guardiola stressed that he is not yet at his peak level.
“He’s back. He still needs time, he’s not the John Stones that we knew but his body language was really good in terms of the press and aggression,” Guardiola said. “It’s important that he played 65 minutes.”
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The timing of his return could prove significant as they prepare to resume their pursuit of the Premier League title.
A rare full week without midweek fixtures now gives Guardiola the chance to refresh his squad physically and mentally.
The manager confirmed he intends to allow his players a short break before attention turns back to league matters. With the season entering a decisive period, maintaining sharpness and energy will be crucial.
From Salford, the defeat represented a far more respectable outcome than their previous visit in the competition.
Last season, they suffered an 8-0 defeat at City’s hands. This time, they remained organised and competitive for long spells.
