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Tag: Guardiola

  • ‘I don’t sleep well after a defeat’ – Guardiola reacts on Tottenham loss

    ‘I don’t sleep well after a defeat’ – Guardiola reacts on Tottenham loss

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists there’s no panic after their midweek defeat to Tottenham.

    Guardiola saw his team’s lead at the top of the Premier League cut to just three points after last weekend’s late home defeat by Tottenham.

    While Guardiola admitted the atmosphere at training was “sad” this week, he has attempted to become more level-headed around the players.

    “As I get old, I’m learning to enjoy my profession,” he said. “I accept the defeats in a more natural way. I don’t like it, because I don’t sleep well after a defeat, but I accept that the other ones can beat you.

    “I’m not so dramatic, like: ‘we are going to lose the Premier League’. What’s the problem? The problem is how you behave and how you are as a team.

    “When we don’t do our best we will be in trouble, the guys will be in trouble with the manager. You have to improve, that there is still a margin to do better that we are still not doing.”

    Guardiola has dismissed talk of his team being unbeatable.

    “I appreciate all of your generosity for our team but we are not a team to win all the games over six years.

    “It’s impossible. People believe we will make good runs, we are unbeatable and everything is easy – this kind of thing disturbs me a lot because everything is so difficult.

    “We’ve trained well. A little bit more sad than usual but that’s normal. The players have the answer. I said many times to them I never win a game but I never lose either. Football belongs to them.

    “I’m waiting for how we’re going to react. From what I’ve seen in the last years I know they’re going to perform well.”

  • How Guardiola changed my idea of football in 10 months – Clichy

    How Guardiola changed my idea of football in 10 months – Clichy

    Former Manchester City fullback, Gael Clichy says working with boss Pep Guardiola at Etihad transformed his game.

    Clichy spent six years with City, spending less than 12 months under Guardiola.

    He told Blick: “Guardiola changed my idea of football in 10 months.

    “To understand it, you have to experience it yourself. Guardiola is a very meticulous person. Josep personifies the words that the game depends on the little things.

    “He is very meticulous and pays attention to detail seven days a week, which allows each player to improve.”

  • I won’t blindside club when it’s time to leave – Guardiola

    I won’t blindside club when it’s time to leave – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he will be open and honest with the club when the time comes for the coach to make a decision on his future.

    Guardiola’s contract with City runs until the end of the 2022-23 season.

    However, the 51-year-old claims he is not thinking about where he will go if he leaves the Etihad Stadium.

    “They gave me everything, so I cannot betray them or do anything wrong to them. That would be not nice from my side,” said Guardiola.

    “Together we took decisions to come here and to extend the contract two times and it will be the same now. It depends how they feel about me and how I feel myself in the club.”

    He added: “I’m not a guy to think much about the future when I have still the contract I have.

    “I’m not good enough to think far, far away about my future because my future always depends on results. I’m not concerned for any second.”

    Guardiola has spoken in the past about pursuing other interests and challenges later in life, but he insists that is not on his mind.

    “I don’t know – I feel good and comfortable,” he said when asked how long he intends to continue in management.

    “When I’m not energetic and feel a little bit drained or tired, I’m pretty sure I will quit. But right now, I feel good.”

    Guardiola was speaking at a news conference before his side’s trip to face Southampton on Saturday, and the Catalan explained that his desire to improve players and his team’s overall performance levels are what keeps him motivated in management.

    “Still we can play better, still some players can improve and we have some things I don’t like,” he said.

    “It’s the desire to not have the feeling that all the managers and players have when we lose, and to have the pleasure when we win games.”

  • Barca capable of signing Man City players – Guardiola

    Barca capable of signing Man City players – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits transfer business could be done with former club Barcelona.

    Barca are eyeing a swoop for Sterling, 26, with reports suggesting that a player-plus-cash deal involving Frenkie de Jong may be on the cards.

    Sterling’s future has been up in the air recently, with the England international saying that he would consider a move away from the Premier League champions if he is offered more game time elsewhere.

    While Guardiola did not reference Sterling specifically, he admitted at a golf charity event in Spain this week that he cannot rule out a move to Barcelona for any of his players.

    “Honestly I have no idea,” he said. “I don’t know anything. Not that I would tell you anyway.

    “If Barcelona are interested in any of our players, I am convinced that they can get them. Barca continues to be an attractive club, more than attractive. The city, the club, the history and this for the trainers, for the players always seduces a lot.

    “If Barcelona interests one of our players, they will set up the machinery into operation, it is a liner.

    “Barca can use their media to influence signings. That’s the thing about Barcelona; they can do what they want, good or bad.”

  • Xavi must be his own man at Barca – Guardiola

    Xavi must be his own man at Barca – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says new Barcelona coach Xavi needs to be his own man.

    Although Xavi was full of praise for his former coach during his introductory press conference, Guardiola isn’t keen on comparisons between the two.

    “I wasn’t the heir to anybody and Xavi doesn’t have to be my heir,” Guardiola said at a charity golf tournament, held to raise funds for Juan Carlos Unzue’s fight against ALS.

    “If Joan Laporta and the board have chosen Xavi then it’s because there are millions of pros and few cons.

    “He knows the club and will bring positive energy, given how he enjoys football and because of his dedication. He always sees the positive side of things.

    “With his class, dedication and effort, I’m sure he’ll improve the club’s situation.”

  • Pep Guardiola welcomes Conte back to Premier League

    Pep Guardiola welcomes Conte back to Premier League

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was the first Premier League manager to react to Antonio Conte returning to England.

    Conte was named new Tottenham manager today.

    Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Club Brugge on Wednesday, he praised the Italian’s record.

    “Welcome back to the PL,” Guardiola said.

    “His career speaks for himself. An outstanding manager who has had success everywhere.”

  • Liverpool, Man City game all about Klopp vs Guardiola – Fowler

    Liverpool, Man City game all about Klopp vs Guardiola – Fowler

    Robbie Fowler says today’s Premier League clash between Liverpool and Manchester City will be decided by the managers.

    A former Reds and City striker, Fowler wrote for the Mirror: “This is a statement contest, as big as they will get in deciding the destination of the title… two modern giants going toe to toe.

    “I’m talking about Liverpool and Manchester City of course, but I could equally be talking about the two managers, who must now surely be recognised as the current best in the world and already perhaps among the greats.

    “I’m looking at Klopp v Guardiola, and I can see so many similarities with Ferguson and Wenger… without the naked hostility of course!

    “Management is about systems, tactical knowledge, technical ­expertise, yes.

    “But it’s also about motivation and ­inspiration, the man-management side of it is still so important.

    “Both have it but Klopp is a master just as Ferguson was in my day.

    “Guardiola is slightly more Wenger. Don’t get me wrong, Klopp and ­Ferguson are and were great ­tacticians.

    “No way could you win what they have without having that technical side. I think both are ­underrated in that respect, despite their huge ­reputations generally.

    “But Guardiola is almost clinical in his thinking, so defined in his ­approach that sometimes he can appear to lack the human side. I don’t doubt the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic ­believe that, and many other players too.”

  • I’m in love with Marco Verratti – Guardiola

    I’m in love with Marco Verratti – Guardiola

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he is “in love” with PSG midfielder Marco Verratti.

    The Italian pulled the strings in midfield for PSG as they claimed a 2-0 win over Guardiola’s City at the Parc de Princes.

    Asked about the midfielder, Guardiola said: “I’m in love.

    “He’s an exceptional player, because he’s under pressure and he has the calm to have one extra touch and in that moment create extra passes behind our midfield player.

    “He looks not tall, but when you see how he moves, he plays, he’s not a player for long distance passes but you can count on him to make a build-up.

    “Especially in the first half, in the second half we controlled him better with Kevin, but in the first half we were a little bit soft with him.”

  • I won’t keep Bernardo if he’s unhappy – Guardiola

    I won’t keep Bernardo if he’s unhappy – Guardiola

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits Bernardo Silva could leave in January.

    The Portugal midfielder sought to leave City over the summer, though ultimately stayed.

    Guardiola said: “All I want is for Bernardo to be happy, here or anywhere. All I want is for him to be happy because he is a guy who deserves the best.

    “He is so intuitive – it is not his role to be a sitting midfielder, but he knows exactly how to play it and how to predict what will happen, with the ball or without the ball.

    “If he ultimately wants to leave and decides (to leave) the only thing I can say is that the guy or club that gets Bernardo will take one of the best players in the world.

    “Is he happier? You can not play this way if you are not happy, it is impossible.”

  • EPL: Ilkay Gundogan adds to Man City injury list

    EPL: Ilkay Gundogan adds to Man City injury list

    Manchester City injury problems are mounting ahead of a crucial week of big matches with the news that Ilkay Gundogan is the latest player needing treatment.

    City boss, Pep Guardiola hinted the Germany midfielder was nursing a problem following Saturday’s goalless draw with Southampton.

    Guardiola was already without John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri and Oleksandr Zinchenko against Saints.

    City face a tough run of away games with Chelsea, Sept.25, Paris St Germain, Sept. 28 and Liverpool FC Oct. 3 all coming within a nine-day period.

    Guardiola insists his injury list is so bad that he has no choice but to play several of his youngsters when the club begin the defence of their trophy against the third-tier side.

    “I don’t have another alternative,” said the Spaniard. “We are going to play a few young players. Some first-team players but some players must rest for the three games we have ahead of us.

    “A few players from the academy are going to play because we have John, Ayme (Laporte), Aleks (Zinchenko), Rodri, I think Gundogan, all of them injured.

    “We will see because we don’t have four or five days to prepare and to make a good selection but it is an opportunity for the academy – that’s why they are there.

    “Now we are going to play the Carabao Cup. We are going to see how many people recover for the next days because we are in difficult conditions right.

    “But we will go there and to London and Paris and Liverpool to do good games.”

    When news of injuries to Rodri and Zinchenko broke ahead of the Southampton game, Guardiola said he does not know how long either player will be out.

    He said Stones and Laporte are already doubtful for the trip to Chelsea this weekend.

    Guardiola also ruled out Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo, as they are the only players to have played every minute of every game so far this season.

    Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez were all on the bench against Saints and could come into the team against Wycombe.

    Academy youngsters, Luke Mbete, Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, James McAtee and Sam Edozie are also set to come into contention for starting places.

    Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara will miss at least the next two matches with a calf problem sustained against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

    It is unlikely the Spain international would have featured in the League Cup tie at Norwich on Tuesday but he will also miss the Premier League trip to Brentford on Saturday.

    “I can’t say now how long it will take but definitely not tomorrow and not at the weekend,” said assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders.