'The ball is in the air more than on the ground' - Pep admits struggle to adapt to Premier League

The ex-Barcelona coach has acknowledged he is
finding it hard to get his current charges playing
his way due to the direct approach of their
opponents
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits
the physical nature of the Premier League has
surprised him and he feels Chelsea are the only
other team trying to build play from the back.
Guardiola made a name for himself at Barcelona
and Bayern Munich with his possession-based
style, which brought him a host of trophies while
cementing his reputation as one of the world's
premier coaches.
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But the manager confessed that he has been
struggling to get City playing his way due to the
direct approach of many of their opponents.
"I try to play in one way all my career and here,
for example with high pressing, when they have
the ball we go to pick them up, it is not allowed,
because it is not allowed. Many times the ball is
more in the air than the grass, and I have to
adapt," Guardiola told Sky Sports.
"I was in Munich and spoke with Xabi Alonso, and
he said: 'You have to adapt, it's the second ball,
the second ball!' But really, you have to adapt to
the second ball, and the third ball, and the fourth!
"I never before was focused on that, because in
Barcelona or in Spain, more or less the players try
to play for the culture.
"That's why they won World Cups, and they won
the Euros, won the Champions Leagues, the
Europa Leagues, all the time, all of the years,
Spanish teams are in the latter stages, all of the
teams.
"In Germany it was more physical, but not like
here. Here it is all the teams, except maybe
Chelsea because Antonio [Conte] is playing really
well and having them build up, but the other teams
are taller, stronger, physical, and you have to
adapt and build from that."