Nunes on Guardiola's Tearful Farewell and a Misunderstood Critique
Matheus Nunes has offered a rare, personal glimpse into the emotional final days of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City reign, revealing that the manager's departure left many at the club in tears.
Speaking about the announcement, the midfielder admitted it caught everyone off guard. "It was unexpected," Nunes said. The farewell itself was an emotional affair, with Nunes recalling, "A lot of people were crying." For Nunes, the moment carried extra weight, as he noted, "I've never been in the club without him."
The interview also touched on a more personal moment between player and manager, following a public comment that had raised eyebrows. Nunes revealed that Guardiola spoke to him the day after the remark, offering clarification. "He said that's not what he meant," Nunes explained.
Guardiola's actual feedback was more nuanced. "What he told me was that in small spaces - like Bernardo [Silva], for example - he felt like I was not that clean sometimes," Nunes said. The player was keen to stress that Guardiola would never directly question his intelligence. "He said he would never say something like that," Nunes added.
Instead, Nunes pointed to his own versatility as evidence of his footballing brain. "But I don't think a player who's not smart would be able to play as many different positions as I did, and play well," he argued. The Portuguese international's willingness to adapt was key, particularly when deployed at right-back. "Honestly, if I didn't change my mindset, I would never have played good there and he would never have said stuff like that," he reflected.
Ultimately, Nunes believes Guardiola's comment stemmed from a deeper understanding of his abilities. "He probably said that because he started to see what others couldn't see, which was that I can actually do the role - and not just do the role but do the role very good."