Guardiola admits to errors at City

MANCHESTER — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has taken responsibility for the club’s recent inconsistent form and said he is still getting to know his players and how best to use them. City made a flying start under Guardiola, winning its first 10 games in all competitions, but has won just nine times in 21 matches since, a run which has left it fourth in the Premier League, seven points behind leader Chelsea. “At times my ideas were not good, because I’m still getting to know the players, to know what is the best position, the best way to play, to adapt to them,” Guardiola told British media. “Sometimes I have an idea: three at the back or play a player in a certain way, and sometimes it didn’t work. And, when that happens, I never complain to the players. Because I see them training, how they suffer. “You have to look at yourself and see what you have to do to help them find each other and play to each other more fluently, not all the time with an aggressiveness,” he added. “That is my job. I have to help them and I tell them that. And most of the times we were not good, it was my responsibility.” Guardiola said he will have to adapt to the English game and tweak the tactics, which have served him so well during trophy-laden spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. “I’m not going to change England and I don’t want to do that. Of course, it’s going to change me. That’s why I came here — to be changed. That is nice,” the Spaniard added. “When I do the same thing all my career, 15 or 20 years as a coach, it’s boring. I would still be in Barcelona, my home and with these players I would be there. But every country has his own personality, his own way to play. And that is marvelous. “That’s why football is amazing. And, of course, I come here and I said a thousand million times, I am trying to adapt to English football in the way I believe you can do that.” City travels to face seventh-placed Everton on Jan. 15. Chelsea recalls Ake Chelsea has recalled Dutch left-back Nathan Ake from his loan spell at Bournemouth, the Premier League leaders announced Sunday. Ake, 21, joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan in June and has been in impressive form, scoring three goals as Eddie Howe’s side have climbed to ninth in the table. But with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte seeking competition for left-sided wing-back Marcos Alonso, Ake has been summoned back to Stamford Bridge. “Ake is a really good player,” Conte said before Ake’s return was confirmed. “I’m evaluating his situation, because Ake could be an interesting opportunity in this window for us.” Ake, who can also play in midfield, joined Chelsea from Feyenoord in 2011 and has previously spent time on loan at Reading and Watford. — Agencies