'I understand better' - Pep Guardiola takes swipe at critics of his Man City tactics

Pep Guardiola told critics of his unorthodox Manchester City tactics to be patient, as he launched a passionate defence of some of his recent decisions regarding key players.

Guardiola has moved Bernardo Silva to left-back in the last week, and when he described his first-half tactics at Arsenal this week as 'horrible', many took that to refer to midfielder Bernardo playing out of position. In the second half, Nathan Ake was introduced and Bernardo returned to the front line, instigating City's important victory.

However, Guardiola insisted the 'horrible' comment was not in reference to Bernardo, as he insisted those who doubt his tactics are not in full possession of the information and ideas he has.

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"I didn’t say that. I said the general aspect of how to figure out the game didn’t work," he said. "But not because Bernardo played at left-back. I didn’t say that. Bernardo as a full-back is more aggressive in the duels than Fabian Delph or Zinchenko. [The horrible tactics] were because I defend with wingers inside not outside. "If it works I am brave, if it doesn’t work I am overthinking. Arrogant. ‘What is Pep believing, changing tactics?' Why don’t you play Kevin De Bruyne all the time? Why don’t you play the other ones? Because Kevin De Bruyne cannot play all the games. He needs to be fresh here [in the head]. When I take a decision, I have to believe it."

Delving deeper into the idea of moving Bernardo back into defence, Guardiola doubled down on his assertion that he should be allowed to field a system that he believes without as much criticism as he sometimes gets.

"When I think about we have to put a left-back to completely control